Title: Canadian Sikhs Protest Outside Indian Diplomatic Missions Amidst Allegations of Involvement in Murder
Date: September 25, 2023
Source: Reuters
Toronto/Ottawa – Small protests took place outside India’s diplomatic missions in Canada as Canadian Sikhs expressed their concerns regarding the alleged involvement of New Delhi in the murder of a Sikh separatist advocate in British Columbia. These demonstrations came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the possibility of a link between New Delhi and the murder.
In Toronto, approximately 100 protesters burned an Indian flag and struck a cardboard cut-out of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a shoe. Likewise, around 200 individuals gathered outside the Vancouver consulate. Meanwhile, in Ottawa, fewer than 100 people gathered outside the Indian High Commissioner’s office, waving yellow flags that bore the word “Khalistan” in support of an independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab region, a cause that the slain advocate advocated for.
During the demonstration in Ottawa, Reshma Sing Bolinas, a protester, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Trudeau and demanded that Canada put pressure on India to prevent the killing of innocent people in the future.
Canada is home to approximately 770,000 Sikhs, the largest Sikh population outside of Punjab, India. Consequently, protests by Sikhs have taken place in recent years, causing tensions between the two nations.
India dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and issued a warning to its citizens traveling to Canada, alerting them to growing “anti-India activities” in the country. However, no evidence or specific incidents were provided to support this claim.
The allegations have brought attention to Canada’s Sikh community. Although Sikhs make up only 2% of India’s population, they form a majority in Punjab, where their religion originated 500 years ago.
Kuljeet Sing, a protester in Toronto and a member of the group Sikhs for Justice, accused the Indian government of compromising Canada’s sovereignty using unethical methods.
In response to the allegations, both Canada and India have expelled diplomats, and New Delhi has suspended visas for Canadians.
Some protesters in Toronto and Ottawa have called for the expulsion of the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who assured authorities that security measures were in place to handle the protests.
The murdered advocate, Hardeep Sing Ninja, migrated from Punjab to Canada 25 years ago and became a Canadian citizen. He supported the establishment of an independent Sikh homeland, leading India to designate him as a “terrorist” in July 2020.
According to CBC News, the Canadian government has conducted an extensive investigation into Ninja using both human and signals intelligence.
Furthermore, a senior Canadian government source informed Reuters that the United States had collaborated closely with Canada on the intelligence related to the possible involvement of Indian agents in the June murder of a Canadian citizen.
The situation remains tense between Canada and India, with both nations grappling with the aftermath of these serious allegations.
Reporting: Wa Lone and Steve Scherer
Writing: Denny Thomas and Steve Scherer
Additional reporting: Jennifer Gauthier in Vancouver
Editing: Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis
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