Tag: KHALISTAN

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Dharamsala Sees Pro-Khalistan Graffiti Ahead of World Cup

The police have erased the slogans and started taking legal action against the matter…reports Asian Lite News

Leading up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 matches in this Himachal Pradesh town, vandals have defaced a government building’s walls with the slogan “Khalistan Zindabad,” according to the local police on Wednesday. This town is also renowned as the residence of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The police have erased the slogans and started taking legal action against the matter, officials told IANS.

Earlier, posters of Khalistan, a separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, surfaced in May last year at the main entrance of the state legislative Assembly campus here.

Dharamsala is some 250 km from the state capital.

The police said investigations were on and also asked the locals not to feel threatened by the posters.

“It is an act of mischievous elements. We are taking legal action against this,” a senior police official told IANS.

“Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) released footage of the inscription which were defaced with a pro-Khalistan slogan,” said the official.

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) will be hosting Bangladesh vs Afghanistan on Saturday, followed by England vs Bangladesh on October 10, South Africa vs Netherlands on October 17, India vs New Zealand on October 22 and Australia vs New Zealand on October 28.

The HPCA Stadium, one of the newest stadiums in the country with the mighty Dhauladhar range in the backdrop, is located in the Kangra district of Dharamsala.

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India’s Overseas Terrorist Hunt Intensifies

The recent series of targeted eliminations of individuals involved in anti-India activities abroad commenced with the assassination of Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, also known as Zahid Akhoond, a member of Jaish-e-Mohammad….writes Ahmed Ali Fayyaza

Even as reports of the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)  founder Hafiz Saeed’s son, Kamaluddin Saeed, in Karachi are yet to be confirmed independently and a top-ranking LeT ideologue, Mufti Qaisar Farooq has been reportedly shot dead on Saturday, as many as 16 anti-India terrorists and activists have been eliminated in target killings in the foreign countries. Most of these target killings have been executed in Pakistan and Canada.

Mufti Qaisar Farooqui, reportedly shot dead by two motorcycle-borne gunmen in Sohrab Goth, Karachi, Pakistan, was a co-founder of the designated global terrorist outfit LeT and a right-hand man of the LeT patriarch Hafiz Saeed. Farooqui’s killing, 16th in the last 19 months in foreign countries, is considered to be the deadliest setback in recent times to Saeed and his Jamiat-ud-Dawa and LeT.

Meanwhile, a number of security analysts and terrorism reporters insist that Saeed’s own son, Kamal-uddin Saeed—some say his nephew—too has been killed by his kidnappers. Reportedly kidnapped in Karachi, Saeed has been missing since 26 September 2023.

Nijjar

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has  pointed a finger at India for the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, New Delhi has strongly refuted the unsubstantiated allegation. With this development of diplomatic row still unfolding and spreading, assassins in all the 16 target killings are still untraced and unidentified.

A top commander of Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), Aijaz Ahmad Ahangar aka Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri of Nawakadal Srinagar, was found dead in Nangarhar, Afghanistan on 18 July 2019.

The current chain of killings of anti-India terrorists and activists in foreign countries began with the killing of the Jaish-e-Mohammad functionary, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim aka Zahid Akhoond, a hijacker of IC-814 flight, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi, Pakistan, on 1 March 2022.

Prominent ISI operative, Mohammad Laal, who was reportedly closely linked to the Kashmir insurgency, was mysteriously shot dead by unidentified killers in Gothatar, outside Kathmandu, Nepal, on 19 September 2022.

Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu aka Rinda, who was allegedly involved in a number of anti-India terror acts, including an RPG attack on the Punjab Police headquarters died of drug overdose in mysterious circumstances at a Military Hospital in Lahore on 19 November 2022.

Hizbul Mujahideen’s Launching Chief and top operative Bashir Ahmad Peer aka Imtiyaz Alam was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on 20 February 2023.

A former commander of the Albadar Mujahideen, Syed Khalid Raza, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Karachi, Pakistan, on 26 February 2023.

Syed Noor Sholabar, a prominent jihadist activist and ideologue, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Bara Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan on 4 March 2023.

Khalistan Commando Force chief and a top wanted terrorist in India, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Lahore in Pakistan on 6 May 2023.

Another Khalistani separatists, Avtar Singh Khanda, died in a hospital in Birmingham, UK, on 15 June 2023. Khanda had earlier led the attack on the Indian High Commission in London.

The most high profile anti-India activist and former terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead by unidentified persons outside a Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on 18 June 2023.

Jamiat-ud-Dawa activist, Mullah Sardar Hussain Arain, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Nawabshah district of Karachi Sindh, Pakistan, on 5 August 2023. The Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army, claimed responsibility for this and some other such killings.

Mohammad Riyaz aka Abu Qasim, a top-ranking LeT functionary and commander from Jammu’s Poonch area, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman inside a mosque at Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 8 September 2023.

Reportedly a top functionary of LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen, Ziaur-Rehman was shot dead by unidentified bikers in Gulistan-e-Jauhar district of Karachi on 12 September 2023. He was reportedly an administrator of Jamia Abubakar.

Khalistani activist, Sukhdool Singh aka Sukha Dunuke was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Winnipeg, Canada, on 21 September 2023. He was known as the top aide of top wanted terrorist Arshdeep Singh.

(The article first appeared in India Narrative)

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Khalistan Extremism On The Rise In West, Says Colin Bloom

Mr. Bloom voiced his apprehensions regarding Western governments’ inaction in confronting the troubling and assertive conduct exhibited by certain individuals within the Sikh community….reports Dr. Jasneet Bedi

Colin Bloom, a former adviser to the UK government and renowned author, has raised a red flag regarding the growing menace of Khalistan extremism in Western countries.

In a recent interview, Mr. Bloom expressed his concerns over the lack of action by Western governments in addressing this sinister and aggressive behavior among some members of the Sikh community.

This article delves into his observations and emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to counteract this disturbing trend.

It is crucial to note that the majority of the Sikh population in Western countries does not endorse extremist ideologies.

These radical elements within the community are causing immense frustration and disappointment among law-abiding Sikh individuals who want no part in such activities.

Western Governments’ Inaction

Colin Bloom highlights the Western governments’ failure to address and tackle the rise of extremist and aggressive behavior within the Sikh community.

He asserts that British Sikhs, who have reached out to him, feel abandoned by their government. The same sentiments likely echo in Canada and the United States, where similar issues persist.

Mr. Bloom insists that Western governments, including the UK, US, and Canada, should collaborate to address this growing concern. He calls for stronger efforts to protect Sikhs who distance themselves from extremist elements.

Khalistan

Urgent Need for Action

The recent incident in which a Sikh restaurant owner’s car was shot at and vandalized in West London demonstrates the gravity of the situation. It is clear that these extremist elements pose a significant threat to both individuals and communities.

Mr. Bloom urges the British government, as well as other Western governments, to step up their efforts to protect those who want nothing to do with such extremism.

He also emphasizes the importance of monitoring online materials, as they can play a pivotal role in radicalization. If left unchecked, this issue could spiral out of control, leading to more intimidation and harm to innocent people.

False Appearance of Legitimacy

Colin Bloom’s report for the UK government warns that some pro-Khalistan Sikh groups aim to inflate their influence by masquerading as human rights activists.

These groups present a false image of legitimacy while engaging in subversive, sectarian, and discriminatory activities. It is vital to recognize that the actions of these fringe groups do not represent the true nature of the broader Sikh community in Western countries.

Colin Bloom’s report and his recent comments highlight the pressing need for Western governments to address the escalating Khalistan extremism issue. The disruption of events involving Indian officials, threats against vocal individuals, and the potential for further harm necessitate immediate attention and action.

It is incumbent upon Western governments to protect their Sikh communities from the divisive and dangerous actions of a small minority while upholding the values of free speech and religious freedom. Failure to do so may allow this issue to spiral out of control, harming more people and damaging the fabric of multicultural societies.

ALSO READ: ‘Chinese Firm Providing Cybersecurity For Khalistan Referendums’

ALSO READ: Khalistani Network Struggles, Looks to Forge Alliances

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India Pledges Support for Sikhs, Condemns Extremism

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar expressed his belief that the current discussions surrounding the ‘Khalistan’ issue do not represent the broader Sikh community…reports Asian Lite News

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasized the Modi government’s dedication to addressing the concerns of the Sikh community, highlighting that extremist elements represent only a small minority within the community.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington DC, Mr. Jaishankar addressed the ongoing ‘Khalistan’ issue and reassured the international community that it does not reflect the views of the entire Sikh community.

Over the last decade, the Indian government has made substantial efforts to address the issues affecting the Sikh community, stated Mr. Jaishankar, underlining their commitment to ensuring the welfare and rights of the Sikh population.

He expressed his belief that the current discussions surrounding the ‘Khalistan’ issue do not represent the broader Sikh community but are primarily propagated by a small minority with separatist inclinations and a proclivity for violence.

In his address, Mr. Jaishankar also drew attention to India’s strained relations with Canada, attributing the tension to the Canadian government’s alleged permissiveness regarding terrorism, extremism, and violence within its borders.

He mentioned that this permissiveness has hindered the extradition of individuals and organizations involved in violence and illegal activities in India. He highlighted that some individuals and groups openly espouse violence and illicit activities without repercussions, creating a challenging diplomatic situation.

The ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada escalated when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India categorically rejected these allegations, deeming them absurd and motivated, and called on Canada to provide evidence to substantiate the claims.

In response to the escalating tensions, India suspended its visa services in Canada, signaling its dissatisfaction with Canada’s approach to the issue. Additionally, India issued an advisory to its citizens and travelers to Canada, urging them to exercise utmost caution due to the rising anti-India activities, politically-condoned hate crimes, and criminal violence within the country.

The Sikh community, which plays a significant role in India’s cultural and social fabric, has been a subject of concern in recent times due to the ‘Khalistan’ issue and allegations of separatism and violence.

Mr. Jaishankar’s statement underscores India’s commitment to protecting the rights and interests of the Sikh community while also emphasizing the need for unbiased actions by respective governments when addressing extremist elements.

(The article first appeared in Khalsa Vox)

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‘Chinese Firm Providing Cybersecurity For Khalistan Referendums’

With Canada trying to muster the support of the Five Eyes, the Alliance of five White, English-speaking nations, India too found support from South Asian neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka….writes Rahul Kumar

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations against India over the murder of Khalistani accused Hardeep Singh Nijjar are now regular page-one screechy headlines globally, particularly in the Western English media. However, as days have passed, Trudeau finds himself isolated with the Canadian opposition and the media pinning him down over what seem to be half-baked allegations against India.

With Canada trying to muster the support of the Five Eyes, the Alliance of five White, English-speaking nations, India too found support from South Asian neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

With diplomatic sparring on in full swing at international levels, India Narrative catches up with international relations and security expert Chris Blackburn in London over the pro-Khalistan coalition consisting of Western countries, Pakistan and even China.

Excerpts from the interview:

IN: You have been researching the Khalistan movement in the UK and beyond. Why do you think despite proven acts of terrorism like procuring weapons from Pakistan, hijacking planes, bombing the Indian Airlines plane killing 329 passengers and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Western countries continue to support the Khalistan movement?

CB: I think Western nations haven’t taken the threat seriously for a while. I think the Canadian government’s inquiry in 2010 which looked at the Khalistan movement and its role in the bombing of Air India 182, which was the biggest terrorist attack in Canadian history showed a willingness to act, but as we know the Canadian government changed. Policies to deal with Khalistan radicalism were jettisoned.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been been dogged with credible allegations of being in league with Khalistanis in Canada. After Trudeau’s curious allegation of a foreign government being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Trudeau’s former foreign affairs advisor, Omer Aziz said Canada deliberately dragged its feet on combatting terror financing linked to Khalistanis because they didn’t want to upset the Sikh vote bank in Canada. That’s an astonishing claim. It puts Canada’s security and political system in a delicate position.

I think the contemporary support is passive, i.e there is no active support for these radicals. It’s not like the 1980s when you had CIA figures and a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) director, General Daniel O. Graham promoting Khalistanis in the USA in tandem with Pakistani government officials. Chauhan, a radical Khalistani, and others were used for Cold War games.

The weaponisation of religion was to confront the atheist USSR and a socialist India that leaned towards them. Those days are hopefully long gone.

The nations that represent the Five Eyes (FVEY) alliance are mainly signed up to help India and develop our strategic partnerships. Canada is the problem. It’s deeply compromised. Canadian intelligence has an axe to grind for being humiliated by the 2010 inquiry and Trudeau’s allowed to normalise Khalistan radicalism in parliament.

IN: We already know that Western countries and the West support the Khalistani extremists. Is China also helping some of the main protagonists?

CB: We know that Sikhs for Justice and Dal Khalsa have been reaching out to the Chinese. Pannun has publicly reached out to China on numerous occasions. Is it just a publicity stunt? We don’t know if the Chinese have picked up his offers.

Dal Khalsa UK’s Gurcharan Singh and associate of Pannun claimed to have an office in Beijing. We also saw Qihoo 360, a major Chinese company based in Beijing that works with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided cyber security for Khalistan referendums across the globe. Qihoo 360 pushed propaganda that Indian government hackers tried to shut the referendums down. Qihoo 360 is sanctioned by the US Department of Defense for its ties to the Chinese government and its intelligence apparatus. So, there is credible evidence and a growing fact pattern linking Khalistanis to China.

We already know separatists in other parts of India are being sheltered and trained by China. Chinese interest in the Khalistan problem is growing too. It’s the next logical step.

IN: Do you think that Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has extended his reach by levelling allegations of murder against India in the killing of Nijjar? Does it show poor diplomacy by Trudeau?

CB: Yes, he made grave allegations without hard evidence. It has shaken the global community and the Canadian political establishment. We have heard from others that have been briefed on the alleged credible intelligence that it’s mainly open source. David Eny, the Premier of British Columbia said he was brief by the CSIS director and it consisted of mainly internet searches. Trudeau needs to deliver.

Trudeau also claim under scrutiny by the Canadian media and opposition politicians for trying to drag a third party into the diplomatic spat with India. Canada has leaked to CBC reporters that the ‘credible allegations’ were based on Signals intelligence (SIGINT), which could be phone taps or electronic intercepts but without details. We are no further forward.

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Trudeau’s coalition partner and is widely suspected of being a Khalistan sympathiser said in a press conference that he was briefed twice on the ‘credible intelligence’, but said there was nothing clear about it. No evidence. He says the next step is a prosecution. So, it’s very strange why he would make that leap.

IN: Could this be a personal or an ego issue with the Canadian Prime Minister after an embarrassing trip to New Delhi for G20?

CB: I have never really followed Justin Trudeau’s career in great depth. However, his popularity in the polls in Canada is dropping rapidly due to the India-Canada spat and other stunts. He’s losing the trust of Canadians.

IN: India has emphatically denied Canadian allegations that it had a role in Nijjar’s killing. Nevertheless, how would you compare this with the targeted killing of Iranian military official Soleimani by the US in Iraq and similar other assassinations by the US government?

CB: If Indian can convince the world that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a clear and present threat to India and its interests, I don’t think the world will care.

If he was just a simple activist that wound up India with non-binding referendums and was killed for that, it will put India in a difficult place. But, I’m confident that India’s National Investigative Agency (NIA) has enough credible evidence to change global opinion.

It’s currently a war of narratives. The Canadian’s are trying to portray him as a Sikh activist and that NIA doesn’t provide enough evidence. I think pictures of Nijjar firing what looks like AK47s in Canada and posing with an AK47 in Pakistan certainly punctures the Canadian narrative.

IN: The entire diplomatic tussle over the killing of a militant happened in a week when at least four security personnel, including three senior Indian military and police officials were killed in Kashmir. However, we do not see a similar uproar or sympathy for India by the West. Do you see apathy towards Indian lives or hypocrisy or is it both by the West.

CB: India unfortunately suffers from Western politicians refusing to read past headlines. This means developments and events in India aren’t put in a proper context. India has to get out in the world and tell a different story. Make people get interested in India, so they can see biases clearly when they occur.

I think a new generation of journalists and business writers from across the globe will start to see India in a different light moving forward. The stale media in the West is changing too. Hopefully India will benefit from new media and fresher perspectives.

ALSO READ: UK Gurdwara Denounces Khalistan Extremists’ Move Against Indian Envoy

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Khalistani Network Struggles, Looks to Forge Alliances

Khalistan

This development got Intelligence agencies on its toes as Khalistanis have now lost all ground and are trying to get other groups on board and continue their anti-India activities….writes Aayush Goel

While the Canadian PM justifies Khalistani extremism on his soil in the name of freedom of speech and expression the benefit group of the same is now extending to other anti-national activities. With Khalistanis getting visible patronage against India, other groups too are now queuing up for the same.

Lien Gangte, the Canada chapter chief of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) not just delivered a ‘controversial ‘speech over the ethnic violence but also asked Canada for ‘all possible help’.

Interestingly this event was held in the Surrey Gurudwara led by now slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot by unidentified assailants here only. Gangte in his address condemned what he called “attacks on minorities in India” and asked Canada to intervene.

NAMTA had posted a video of the event on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on August 7. It deleted the videos much later when the row between India and Canada surfaced following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim last week that “Indian government agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar. After the address NAMTA members and supporters of the Khalistani terrorist Nijjar also reportedly sat for a meeting.

This development got Intelligence agencies on its toes as Khalistanis have now lost all ground and are trying to get other groups on board and continue their anti-India activities.

The agencies are keeping a close watch on these groups and suspect that Khalistanis would not just fund them but also mediate a support from Trudeau.

“Khalistanis have so far been a failure. Even with Trudeau’s support and false allegations, they have failed to harm India Internationally or arm twist us. They are now looking for numbers and thus trying to trap small groups. They are being promised funding, International stage to voice anti India sentiments and an unquestioned support from vote bank driven Trudeau government. We have many such groups on radar and closely monitoring them,” said a senior Intelligence official.

(India Narrative)

ALSO READ: UK Gurdwara Denounces Khalistan Extremists’ Move Against Indian Envoy

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UK Gurdwara Denounces Khalistan Extremists’ Move Against Indian Envoy

In a widely circulated video capturing the event that unfolded on Friday at Albert Drive, several individuals aligned with pro-Khalistan views approached Mr. Doraiswami’s vehicle, urging him to depart….reports Asian Lite News

The Glasgow Guru Granth Sahib Gurdwara has issued a strong condemnation of the recent incident in which Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, was prevented from attending an event by individuals associated with pro-Khalistan extremism.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Gurdwara said that it “strongly condemns such disorderly behaviour to disrupt the peaceful proceedings of a Sikh place of worship”.

“The Gurdwara is open to people from all communities and backgrounds, and we welcome everyone openly as per our principles of faith,” it said.

In a viral video of the incident, which occurred at Albert Drive on Friday, a few pro-Khalistan activists approached Doraiswami’s car and asked him to leave.

The two-day personal visit facilitated by a member of Scottish Parliament, reportedly involved a series of meetings and discussions with local political leaders, diaspora representatives, business chiefs and university groups.

“Certain unknown individuals from outside the Glasgow area attempted to disrupt this visit, following which the visiting party decided to leave the premises. After the departure of the visitors, these unruly individuals continued to disturb the Gurdwara congregation,” the statement read.

It added that the police in Scotland were in attendance after the incident, and have taken cognizance of the matter.

The Indian High Commission on Saturday said that it has reported this “disgraceful incident” to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police.

The incident comes in the wake of a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Canada-based pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

ALSO READ: Indian envoy  denied entry to Glasgow Gurudwara

ALSO READ: India Turns The Heat On Khalistanis

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India Turns The Heat On Khalistanis

Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Karanvir Singh, a member of the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International believed to be hiding in Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News

The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, on Monday issued a Red Corner Notice against Karanvir Singh, a member of the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International.

Interpol updated its website by putting out a Red Corner Notice for the Khalistani leader.

According to intelligence sources, Singh is believed to be hiding in Pakistan and was a member of the pro-Khalistan terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International.

As per the Interpol portal, 38-year-old Karanvir Singh has roots in Punjab’s Kapurthala district.

Further, according to Interpol, Singh is wanted by India for criminal conspiracy, murder, offences related to the Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act, raising funds for terrorist acts, conspiracy, and being a member of a terrorist gang or organisation.

A Red Corner Notice is a request to the law enforcement authorities of Interpol’s member countries to find and temporarily detain a person until extradition, surrender, or a similar legal process can take place.

Earlier, Interpol issued a Red Notice to all member countries against gangster Himanshu alias Bhau, who is believed to be living abroad.

Giving details, a spokesman of Haryana Police said Rohtak Police succeeded in getting a Red Corner Notice issued against a most wanted accused, who is believed to have fled abroad.

The Red Corner Notice against the wanted pro-Khalistani leader comes amid a diplomatic spat between New Delhi and Ottawa in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of an India hand in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

New Delhi dismissed the allegations, calling them ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.

At a news conference in New York, the Canadian PM, however, failed to present any evidence to back his claim of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing. Trudeau was repeatedly quizzed on the nature of the allegations but stuck to reiterating that there were “credible reasons” to believe that India was linked to Nijjar’s death.

“There are credible reasons to believe that agents of the Government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil. That is …there is something of utmost foundational importance in a country’s rule of law in a world where international rules-based order matters,” Trudeau said.

“We call upon the Government of India to take seriously this matter and to work with us to shed full transparency and ensure accountability and justice in this matter,” the Canadian PM added.

According to CBC News, the Canadian government invested both human and signal intelligence in a months-long investigation into Nijjar’s death. That intelligence includes communications involving Indian diplomats present in Canada.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, however, said no information has been shared by Canada with regard to the killing of Nijjar.

“We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said during a briefing.

A designated terrorist in India, Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.

‘Terrorists have found safe haven in Canada’

Meanwhile, reacting to the India-Canada diplomatic row, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has said that terrorists have found safe haven in the North American country and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has this way of coming out with outrageous allegations.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister further added that he is “not surprised” by his comments as Trudeau comes out with “outrageous and substantiated allegations.”

“Some of the terrorists have found safe haven in Canada. The Canadian PM has this way of just coming out with some outrageous allegations without any supporting proof. The same thing they did for Sri Lanka, a terrible, total lie about saying that Sri Lanka had a genocide. Everybody knows there was no genocide in our country”, said Sri Lankan Foreign Minister.

Taking a dig at Trudeau for honouring a former Nazi soldier in Canada’s parliament, he said, “I saw yesterday he had gone and given a rousing welcome to somebody who has associated with the Nazis in the past during the Second World War. So, this is questionable and we have dealt with it in the past. I am not surprised that sometimes PM Trudeau comes out with outrageous and substantiated allegations.”

On September 22, during Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy’s speech in Canada’s Parliament, 98-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslav Hunka, who served in the first Ukrainian division, also known as the SS division “Galicia” during World War II was honoured by the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada.

ALSO READ-Sri Lanka Backs India on Canada’s Allegations

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How Canada Became a Hub for Sikh Extremism

The idea of a separate Sikh state appears as a refuge from the discrimination Sikhs face in Canada…writes Antariksh Singh

The world of pop culture, with its pulsating beats and flashy visuals, often carries within it the strains of political undertones.

In Canada’s thriving Punjabi music scene, rappers like Shubh don’t merely represent a contemporary hip-hop culture; they inadvertently echo sentiments of a bygone extremist movement, Khalistan, which has long lost traction in India.

Yet, it has found resonance among a section of the Sikh diaspora in Canada. How has this ideology, once marginalized and isolated in India, become part of mainstream dialogue in another country?

Canada has been home to Punjabi immigrants for generations. Through their trials of integration, the weight of historical grievances carried over, especially the wounds of the 1984 Sikh riots in India. Pop culture becomes the medium, the mouthpiece for expressing this anguish. Songs like ‘Putt Sardar De’ and ‘SYL’ not only glorify extremists and radicals, but also inadvertently link Sikhism with gangsterism, an association both unfair and damaging.

As Neilesh Bose suggests, the sentiment behind this movement is not solely the desire for a separate homeland but stems from a perceived injustice towards Sikhs by India.

But should a perceived past injustice be the rationale for nurturing extremist ideologies abroad, especially when many Sikhs in India have moved forward?

There’s also the perspective of the second and third-generation Sikh Canadians who grapple with identity amidst the multicultural fabric of Canada. Racism, particularly towards Sikhs, has been an unfortunate part of their experience.

Their search for identity, coupled with tales of a glorious past and Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign, creates a romanticized view of Khalistan. The idea of a separate Sikh state appears as a refuge from the discrimination they face in Canada.

Additionally, the machinations of international politics play their part. The Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, has long been suspected of stoking secessionist sentiments, not just in Kashmir but also among the Sikh diaspora.

Their alleged association with US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and support for Khalistani propaganda underscore the geopolitics at play. It’s not just about a community’s grievances; it’s the age-old game of nations using expatriate sentiments as pawns in their larger strategies.

Central to the sustenance of the Khalistani sentiment in Canada is the stronghold they have over certain gurudwaras. For a community, a gurudwara is not just a place of worship; it’s the heartbeat of their collective life. By controlling the narrative here, Khalistan sympathizers ensure that their ideology continues to find both voice and monetary support.

In conclusion, while the idea of Khalistan has lost its fervor in India, its remnants have found a home in Canada. The potent mix of historical grievances, search for identity, geopolitics, and the power of pop culture ensures that this sentiment remains alive. However, it’s essential for both nations and their diaspora to realize that sustaining extremist ideologies, no matter where they find resonance, is detrimental to the fabric of any society.

(The article first appeared in Khalsa Vox)

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India Seizes Khalistani Extremist Pannun’s Assets

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) have confiscated two properties of Pannun in Punjab’s Amritsar and Chandigarh

In a massive action and in a bid to tighten its noose around Canada-based ‘designated individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday has confiscated his two properties.

“We have confiscated two properties of Pannun in Punjab’s Amritsar and Chandigarh,” an NIA official told IANS. 

The official said that the agency has confiscated properties of Pannun which include 46 Kanal of agricultural property in the ancestral village Khankot, located on the outskirts of Amritsar district.

(Photo: NIA India)

The official also said that it has also confiscated his residential property in Sector 15 area of Chandigarh.

The agency sleuths also put the hoarding outside the property of Pannun informing him about the anti-terror probe agency’s action.

In a statement the anti-terror probe agency confirmed that it has confiscated the house and land of the self-styled General Counsel of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh UT.

The properties attached include 1/4th share of House Number 2033, Sector 15/C, Chandigarh (U.T).

The agency said that these properties were earlier attached following orders passed by the government in two different cases.

“The properties have now been confiscated on the court’s orders under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, in a case it registered on April 5, 2020, under sections 120-B, 124-A, 153-A 153-B and 17, 18 and 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

A NIA spokesperson here said that the action against Pannun is a big boost to the country’s crackdown on the terror and secessionist network being operated from various countries, including Canada, followed confiscation orders passed by the NIA Special Court, SAS Nagar, Mohali.

The official said that Pannu has been on NIA’s scanner since 2019, when the anti-terror agency had registered its first case against the terrorist, who has been playing a major role in promoting and commissioning terror acts and activities, and spreading fear and terror in Punjab and elsewhere in the country through his threats and intimidation tactics.

The non-bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Pannu by the NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29 last year.

“NIA investigations have revealed that Pannun’s organisation, Sikhs for Justice, was misusing the cyberspace to radicalise gullible youth and to instigate them to undertake terrorist crimes and activities,” the spokesperson said.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

It further emerged during the NIA probe that Pannu was the “main handler and controller of the SFJ”.

The SFJ was declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ by the Government of India, vide notification on July 10, 2019.

 Pannun, who was declared a ‘designated individual terrorist’ by the Government of India on July 1, 2020, has been actively exhorting Punjab-based gangsters and youth over the social media to fight for the cause of independent state of Khalistan, challenging the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country, NIA probe have shown.

The official said that in recent days, Pannun has been in the news for issuing blatant threats to senior Indian diplomats and government functionaries in public forums.

“He had also threatened Canadian Hindus a few days, asking them to leave Canada and claiming that they had adopted a ‘jingoistic approach’ by siding with India,” the NIA statement read.

The case was originally registered as FIR no. 152 on October 19, 2018 under several sections of the IPC at Sultanwind Police Station in Amritsar (City) and later transferred to the NIA.

The NIA has chargesheeted a total of 10 accused, including Pannu in the case.

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