As India and Canada resume diplomatic ties, a banned Khalistani outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on September 18. The pro-Khalistan group had said it will take over the Indian consulate on Thursday and urged Indo-Canadians, planning a routine visit to the consulate, to choose another date.
The terror outfit released a poster showing the new Indian High Commissioner, Dinish Patnaik, with a target on his face. In a statement, the group accused Indian consulates of running a spy network and surveillance targeting Khalistanis.
“Two years ago — 18 September 2023 — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament that the Indian agents’ role was under investigation in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” the statement said.
“Two years on, Indian Consulates continue to run a spy network and surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners,” it added.
India-Canada Relations on Nijjar killing
A Canadian government report acknowledged the presence of Khalistani terror groups in the country. The report also acknowledged that extremist Khalistani groups were receiving financial support from individuals and networks based in Canada. These groups include Babbar Khalsa International and the International SYF. Both are listed as terrorist organisations under Canada’s Criminal Code. The report says that now these extremist groups mostly operate through smaller groups of individuals who support the Khalistan cause without being tied to any specific organisation.
Naming of new high commissioners was made after the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during Modi’s visit to Canada for the G7 summit in June. The relation between the two countries has been strained since 2023. Then PM Justin Trudeau said they have ‘credible proof’ linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. India rejected Trudeau’s claims, calling them “absurd” and “motivated,” and accused Canada of letting extremist and anti-India activities grow unchecked.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara on June 18, 2023.
