Canada has thus the dubious distinction of having become a hospitable country for terrorists, gangsters, and radicals. That is to say that one is talking here not only about pro-Khalistan elements but other individuals too, mostly with criminal backgrounds, who reportedly use fake identities and documents to gain entry into Canada and the US … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
Patrick Brown, the Mayor of Brampton, reportedly told the Canadian media that the police had examined the video showing the float in which two Sikhs were shown killing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and concluded that it did not translate into a hate crime.
This statement sums up the attitude of the Canadian authorities towards pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil. While the freedom of expression is undoubtedly a right, to suggest that Canadian citizens (in this case Sikhs) can go around eulogizing the assassination of a former Indian Prime Minister with the government taking little or no notice sends out a clear signal as to which side of the fence the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits on. This by the way, is not a recent instance, and it is on record that his father Pierre Trudeau refused to extradite a known criminal, who would later be responsible for the bombing of the Air India flight Kanishka over Ireland in 1985, in which 329 people died.
Canada has thus the dubious distinction of having become a hospitable country for terrorists, gangsters, and radicals. That is to say that one is talking here not only about pro-Khalistan elements but other individuals too, mostly with criminal backgrounds, who reportedly use fake identities and documents to gain entry into Canada and the US. These criminal gangs intermix with radicals have created a heady mix posing a serious threat not only to countries around the world, but also for the safety of the North American continent at large. Several wanted criminals from the Indian state of Punjab have reportedly used false papers to reach North American shores. Notable among them is Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Anmol, accused of being part of the network that executed Sidhu Moosewala, fled India using a forged passport. His blatant disregard for law enforcement was evident when a video of him dancing at a California wedding went viral. For those historically minded, it might be a good thing to recall that Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was killed as a result of a criminal gang war (18 June) outside a Gurudwara in Surrey had also entered Canada in 1997 on a false passport.
Furthermore, there is Goldy Brar, the mastermind behind the Moosewala case, who also obtained a Canadian visitor visa on fake documents, despite having 21 First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against him in India. Another character in this gallery of gangsters is Rinku Randhawa, who reportedly moved to Canada using forged papers. Arsh Dalla, involved in several violent crimes in India, similarly secured Canadian permanent residency via counterfeit documents. It’s not just gangsters; but Khalistani radicals also seem to find solace in Canada and parts of the US, particularly California. India’s National Investigation Agency had recently released a list of ten Khalistani’s who targeted the Indian consulate in San Francisco.
The surge of these wanted criminals and radicals raises a vital question – is Canada’s immigration system flawed, or is there a larger political game in play? Critics argue that the Trudeau government, under the guise of free speech and human rights, is reluctant to clamp down on these individuals, possibly for political gains. The Liberal Party government headed by Justin Trudeau has a political alignment in the Canadian Parliament with the New Democratic Party which is headed by Jagmeet Singh, a known Khalistan sympathizer.
Yet, these allegations and concerns pose a threat not only to India’s national security but also to the safety of Canadian citizens. The leniency shown in granting visas and the subsequent conversion of visitor visas to work ones, especially for individuals with criminal records, is alarming. While political expediency is understandable, the risks to Canada’s national security are great.
For instance, Canada’s retraction of Sikh extremism from its 2018 terrorist threat report, amidst political pressure, smacked of opportunism and a soft corner for Khalistan elements. Justin Trudeau’s presence at a Khalsa Day event in 2017, the cold Indian reception during his State visit in 2018 and G20 Summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi have all followed a familiar pattern, one that speaks more of Trudeau’s closeness to Khalistan elements in Canada than to better relations with India. Given his public sympathy for the pro-Khalistan Sikhs in Canada, Trudeau’s allegations that India had a hand in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar make sense. But that is not the real reason for this unsubstantiated allegation made on the floor of the House of Commons.
The reason is to hide the spectre of foreign interference from China in Canada, claims senior Canadian journalist, Daniel Boardman. He says in an interview to Asian News International (ANI) that there is an enormous threat of China meddling in Canada. As Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party has during elections sought support from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the story on India was necessary to move the spectrum away from Chinese foreign involvement.
Boardman traces the Liberal Party’s links to the CCP in the election cycles and alleges that Trudeau made a deal with the Chinese to keep two Canadian citizens in jail in 2018, when Huawei chief Meng Wangzhou was arrested by the RCMP. Boardman correctly surmises that “….in order to shift the spectrum from Chinese foreign interference, we have a story in Canada, which is essentially a story about Pakistani foreign interference, being framed as a story of Indian foreign interference to cover up the real story, which is Chinese interference.”
Earlier in May 2023, Canada had designated Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei as ‘persona non-grata’ following an uproar over allegations of political meddling. This was done because he was threatening the family of sitting MP Micheal Chong. Bordman notes that Trudeau took this action for symbolic reasons. Boardman told ANI that Canadian foreign policy issues have been jumbled up by the Liberals in the media internally in Canada and sold out to Canadians. The point is that Canada’s reputation as a country in the international community of nations is at stake. By permitting Chinese meddling in domestic politics and playing to the gallery with pro-Khalistani elements, Justin Trudeau is harming his own political future. Pertinently, the influx of criminals and radicals could lead to a severe law and order situation, if not tackled proactively. Canada must reevaluate and strengthen its immigration policies to ensure that its hospitality is not abused by those with malicious intentions.
