Tag: KHALISTAN

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Khalistan: PM Modi presses West for strong action

PM Mod demanded comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements before the G20 summit takes place..writes T Brajesh

Days after voicing concern over growing anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan extremists on foreign soil, during talks with various world leaders including the Prime Ministers of the UK and Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to see strong, convincing and credible action by the foreign governments against these elements.

He is keen to see that governments in the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia have something “substantial, concrete and significant” to share with India in terms of action taken against the pro-Khalistan extremists.

PM Modi wants envoys and diplomats at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also ministers to keep interacting with their counterparts in these countries as a follow-up exercise on the action taken against the Khalistani extremists, diplomatic sources told The Sunday Guardian.

“After all, the heads of these countries have promised PM Modi to take strong steps against the elements who were found involved in anti-India activities abroad,” sources added. “Ministers, diplomats and security officials have been asked to mount pressure on these foreign governments in this regard during different meetings in India and abroad,” sources aware of the meetings at South Block told The Sunday Guardian.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will also, in talks with his counterparts from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries, step up pressure for action against pro-Khalistan elements, sources added. Only a fortnight ago, NSA Doval discussed the heightened pro-Khalistan activity in the UK with Tim Ballow, who was on his way to Kerala to attend a G20 Sherpa meeting. “By the time the world leaders assemble here for the G20 Summit in September this year, there must be a comprehensive update on the concrete action taken by these foreign governments against the Khalistani elements.” This is the clear message from PM Modi, sources said.

London, Mar 20 (ANI): Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India, in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

In a telephonic conversation with UK PM Rishi Sunak recently, PM Modi called for strong action against “anti-India elements”. Sources say PM Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. “When PM Modi invited Sunak for the G20 summit soon after raising this issue during the conversation, the PM in fact indicated that India would want to hear something on the action part before the summit takes place,” said informed diplomatic sources.

Bali, Nov 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with his United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak on the first day of the 17th G20 Summit, in Bali on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Sunak conveyed to the PM that the UK considered the attack on the Indian High Commission in London by Khalistani elements to be “totally unacceptable” and assured the security of the Indian mission and its personnel. “But the time for rhetoric is over, there must be tough action now,” officials said, referring to “the instructions that have come from the top government leadership” here.

PM Modi was equally serious about action against Khalistanis during talks with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. PM Modi raised the issue of vandalism of Hindu temples in Australia by Khalistani extremists. Sources said that Australia has already launched a massive crackdown against Khalistani sympathisers.

According to sources, the Australian high commission has briefed the Indian government that three Khalistani supporters have been detained in Melbourne by the police there, and more are being rounded up on the basis of inputs provided by those in custody. The government system in New Zealand is also reportedly taking action on similar lines.

During his meetings and talks with counterparts in the US, Canada, the UK, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been flagging the issue of anti-India activities by pro-Khalistan elements. Recently, he spoke on this issue with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Indian missions in London, British Columbia and San Francisco were vandalised by pro-Khalistan extremists following the police action against radical preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab.

San Francisco, Mar 23 (ANI): Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate amid heightened security, in San Francisco on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

During talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, two weeks ago, Jaishankar had put pressure on Ottawa seeking action against Khalistanis in Canada, terming the Khalistan issue as a national security concern for New Delhi.

The Canadian government is reported to have shared its action plan to be carried out against these elements in future. “However, India is waiting for reports on the actual action taken,” an official said.

In what is being viewed as part of the campaign to build pressure on foreign governments, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on 12 April called for action against Khalistani extremists for the attack on the Indian high commission in London. “Trade talks are underway but some credible action should be taken against the incident that happened in Britain,” said Goyal.

In another significant development that underlines the positive results of PM Modi’s diplomacy, a delegation of Sikh Americans told the visiting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently that “the steps taken by PM Modi in the interest of the Sikh community, including their long-pending demands have resulted in the fizzling out of the separatist Khalistan movement”.

The delegation applauded the Modi government for being there for Sikhs and for implementing several demands for the Sikh community in the past nine years. It said that it is because of this, the Khalistan movement has fizzled out in the US. On this, diplomatic sources said, “The government here is waiting for a word from the Biden administration on the action taken in the US and on the over-all status.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is doing its part significantly in creating pressure on the UK and other countries to take action against the Khalistani extremists. MHA officials used the recently held India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue to discuss Khalistani activities in the UK and the protests and violent clashes at the Indian mission in London.

The dialogue, held in New Delhi, was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The UK delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft. The Indian officials asked their UK counterparts to keep a close eye on Khalistani activities in their country and take action against the accused accordingly. Sources said that UK officials were told that Khalistani activists were plotting terror activities to be carried out in India.

In a strong message to Britain, the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the misuse of UK asylum status by pro-Khalistan elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India. New Delhi also assured better cooperation with London to enhance the monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistan extremists.

ALSO READ: Khalistan leader Amritpal arrested After 36 days of chase

ALSO READ: Khalistan supporters in UK creating security challenges

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Khalistan leader Amritpal arrested After 36 days of chase

The 30-year-old Waris Punjab De chief had been on the run after evading arrest on March 18…reports Vishal Gulati

After 36 days of the cat-and-mouse chase spread over several states between the Punjab Police and the pro-Khalistan propagator, Amritpal Singh was arrested on Sunday from the native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed in the Indian Army’s Operation Blue Star in 1984.

As per police, Amritpal Singh was arrested from Rode village in Moga district. He was shifted to Dibrugarh jail in Assam as the National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against him.

Law enforcement agencies can keep him in detention for over 12 months.

Taking to Twitter, Punjab Police said: “Amritpal Singh arrested in Moga, Punjab. Further details will be shared by Punjab Police…Urge citizens to maintain peace and harmony. Don’t share any fake news, always verify and share.”

The 30-year-old Waris Punjab De chief had been on the run after evading arrest on March 18.

The police was also looking at a possibility if he was planning to escape to Canada via Nepal.

He shot to prominence in February after an armed mob led by him clashed with police and laid siege to a police station near Amritsar, demanding the release of one of their colleagues who had been taken into custody in an alleged kidnapping case.

Six policemen were injured in the bloody clash.

Intelligence officials, familiar with “dark days” in Punjab from September 1981 to August 1992 in which 1,792 police officers sacrificed their lives while fighting the militants, fear the Khalistan sentiments trying to generate by Amritpal Singh might create another 1984-like situation.

Regarding his arrest, some media reports claimed that the fugitive reached the native village of Bhindranwale on Saturday night and surrendered before the police in the morning.

A video, viral on the social media, purportedly shown Amritpal Singh addressing from a Sikh shrine and saying last one month “exposed” the real face of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government. “I may be an accused in the court but not an accused in the court of Almighty,” he said.

IANS doesn’t however, authenticate the video’s origin and timing.

Bhindranwale’s nephew Jasvir Rode told the media Amritpal Singh had informed police last night itself that he will surrender Sunday morning after paying obeisance at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sant Khalsa. He surrendered around 7 a.m.

In September last year, Amritpal Singh’s dastar bandi (turban tying) ceremony was held at Rode village, marking his official installation as the head of Waris Punjab De.

Before his arrest, his close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested in Amritsar on April 10 under the NSA and that six other cases have also been registered against him.

Papalpreet Singh is a Khalistani activist who called himself a journalist before ending up as a media advisor to the radical preacher. A resident of Amritsar, he was earlier arrested for his alleged links to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence in 2015.

Three days before his arrest, Amritpal Singh’s Britain-origin wife Kirandeep Kaur was stopped at the Amritsar airport and not allowed by immigration officials to board a flight to Birmingham.

After questioning, Kaur has been sent to her home in Jallupur Khera in Amritsar district and asked her not to leave the country without informing the police.

Who is Amritpal Singh?

He was not known till last September when he returned to India from Dubai where he was running his family’s transport business.

After taking charge of Waris Punjab De, which means the heirs of Punjab, he is trying to position himself as a new fulcrum for the panthic cause by calling on the youth to “fight for the freedom” of the Panth.

A resident of Jallupur Khera in Amritsar district, Amritpal Singh moved to Dubai in 2012.

Waris Punjab De is an organisation floated by lawyer-actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu in 2021. One of the accused in Red Fort violence, Sidhu died in a road accident near Haryana’s Sonepat in February 2022.

Unlike Bhindranwale, Amritpal Singh didn’t have any formal religious schooling. A dropout from polytechnic, he cut his hair and shaved his beard while in Dubai.

Police records say Amritpal Singh has been involved in scores of disputes, kidnappings and issuing threats.

Facing criticism for using the Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib as a shield during the clash, Amritpal Singh in March met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh in Amritsar.

After the closed-door meeting, Amritpal Singh said, “This meeting was about Panthic issues and Sikh youth. Such meetings on current affairs of Punjab should be held regularly.a

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Khalistan supporters in UK creating security challenges

Throughout the 1970s, Pakistan supported Sikh separatists in Punjab as a form of political warfare and in the early 1980s, an armed campaign began…reports Asian Lite News

The recent surge in violence by Khalistan supporters in the UK is creating security challenges for Britain, as well as, radicalising the Sikhs in the country.

Britain has seen a recent upsurge in activity by the Khalistan supporters, a faction of Sikh extremists. To many, even within the counter-extremism community, the Khalistanis are rather obscure, but it is a social and security challenge, with an international network operating, reported European Eye on Radicalization (EER). Khalistani supporters have been propagating an ideology and a set of conspiracy theory narratives that encourage Sikhs in Britain to believe they are under relentless attack and thus violence is justified in “self-defence”.

This is dangerous for Sikhs, risking drawing young people and others into terrorism and criminality, and it endangers the wider society by creating divisions within a diverse population that needs cross-community understanding and harmony to thrive, reported EER.

In March this year, the Indian community in Britain erupted in anger following the vandalism of the Indian High Commission in London and the desecration of the Tricolour by Khalistani supporters. This led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from the diverse Indian community in Britain.

In the last few months, the reach of the Khalistan supporters in Britain has made itself known. In February, the Independent Review of Prevent, the British counter-extremism program, by William Shawcross, warned of “pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from the UK’s Sikh communities”.

Shawcross recorded that the Khalistanis were inciting Sikhs in Britain against the government, spreading misinformation that the British government was repressing Sikhs and helping the Indian government do the same in India, while “glorify[ing] violence carried out by the pro-Khalistan movement in India”. This was, said Shawcross, “a potentially toxic combination for the future,” reported EER.

Meanwhile, the investigation is going into the vandalism of the Indian High Commission in London. The investigation should not focus solely on how this one event happened, but on the broader environment that led up to it and correcting the missteps that led to this threat being neglected for too long, reported EER.

Diasporas being more radical than populations “at home” is not an unusual phenomenon: jihadism has a disproportionate hold over Western Muslim populations as compared to Muslims in Islamdom, for example, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or “Tamil Tigers” relied significantly on diaspora funding to wage their war against Sri Lanka, reported EER.

In a similar fashion, the Khalistanis outside India has worked to foster a “Lost Cause” myth among diaspora Sikh populations, presenting their aims in the language of a repressed minority seeking its rights. This narrative leaves out the Khalistanis acting as the pawns of Pakistan in a geopolitical game and the horrendous violence of the Khalistan supporters during its war in the 1980s, not only in India, reported EER.

Throughout the 1970s, Pakistan supported Sikh separatists in Punjab as a form of political warfare and in the early 1980s, an armed campaign began.

In October 1984, months after a military operation to suppress the rebellion in Punjab, then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, and a wave of popular violence against Sikhs erupted.

The Khalistanis exploited this situation to further their victimhood narrative–a common tactic by extremist groups. For the next decade, a war raged, ending in the defeat of the Khalistani insurgency in 1993, reported EER.

Since that time, the Khalistan movement has become a diaspora phenomenon largely. However, as Terry Milewski, a Canadian journalist who has studied the Khalistanis for decades, points out, what is most notable about the territories claimed for this future Khalistan is what they do not include: any part of historic Punjab that is within Pakistan, reported EER.

Moreover, EER also said that Canada has been known as a central node in the Khalistani network, grouped around an organisation calling itself “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ). (ANI)

ALSO READ-Pro-Khalistan elements misusing asylum policy, India tells UK

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UK: Calls for security beef-up intensify after Khalistan assault

India House on Aldwych is located on a roadside with no fencing, barricade, or boundary wall, which gives rouge elements easy access to the premises…reports Asian Lite News

The March 19 attack on the Indian High Commission in London by a group of Khalistani backers, who broke windows and took down the Indian Tricolour, not only points to a glaring absence of security, but also an utter disregard for the Vienna Convention by the UK government.

Housed within the India House on Aldwych, the High Commission is located on a roadside with no fencing, barricade, or boundary wall, which gives rouge elements easy access to the premises, according to people familiar with the location.

While India said that an explanation has been demanded for the complete absence of British security, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said that it finds indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK unacceptable.

According to India-origin MP Navendu Mishra, “Peaceful protests, demonstrations and democratic debate are an important part of British tradition,” and are thus allowed in the UK.

“But vandalism or violence against any person or institution is simply unacceptable,” Mishra said.

London beefed up security just after the police in Delhi removed traffic barricades outside the British High Commission — a move largely seen as India’s displeasure with the security breach in London.

London, Mar 20 (ANI): Khalistani elements attempting to pull down the Indian flag but the flag was rescued by the Indian security personnel at the High Commission of India, in London on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

As the Met Police launched its investigation, British Foreign Minister James Cleverly said the country will review security at the Indian High Commission after “unacceptable acts of violence” towards the mission’s staff.

Allaying fears, British Conservative MP Bob Blackman told the media that only a “small section of the Sikh community” in the UK have been protesting, adding that most of them “absolutely reject” the Khalistani project.

British Sikhs number over 5,20,000 and account for 0.88 per cent of England and Wales’ population as of 2021, forming the UK’s fourth-largest religious group.

In the British Parliament, the attack on the Indian establishment was largely slammed by MPs like Gareth Thomas, Navendu Mishra, Mike Amesbury, Virendra Sharma and Tulip Siddiq, who expressed support for India.

“Appalling”, “unacceptable”, and “hooliganism”… these were some of the words used by British MPs in the Parliament while discussing the recent pro-Khalistan protests.

However, there are a few lawmakers, especially of Punjab-origin, who have been found sympathetic to the Khalistan cause.

Sikh Labour MP from Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, recently expressed his concern via a tweet over the arrests of Khalistani elements and temporary suspension of mobile internet services in Punjab.

He was slammed by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi for “nurturing Khalistani sentiments” in the UK, and said his tweet will not fetch him new votes from Slough “which has a massive chunk of Pakistan supporting population”.

He had also reportedly attacked India at the Referendum 2020 rally in London, a pro-Khalistan movement organised by the banned Sikhs For Justice.

According to a 2023 report in The Guardian, a dossier of evidence was handed to the Home Office about Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill’s “links to hardline Sikh nationalists, who argue for an independent state in what is now Punjab”.

The dossier included photographs of Gill posing with Labour party leader Keir Starmer for a photograph in front of a gallery of pictures of Sikh nationalists like Labh Singh and Sukhdev Singh Babbar from the banned Khalistan Commando Force and Babbar Khalsa International, respectively.

In 2021, Starmer had dropped plans to give a peerage to leading Khalistan supporter Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu amid concerns over his alleged extremist links.

ALSO READ: India, UK hold discussions on bilateral, security cooperation

ALSO READ: Majority of Sikhs in UK reject Khalistan, says Blackman

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How Khalistanis gaining clout in Canada

Political clout of Khalistanis in Canada is far greater than their numbers…reports Asian Lite News

Though Khalistanis constitute a small fraction of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, they wield huge clout in most federal and provincial political parties — the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party.

Their deep influence on the Canadian political set-up allows them to indulge in radical activism.

Through their influence, pro-Khalistan leaders have managed to place their supporters, sons, daughters and relatives in these parties and get them elected as MPs and MLAs and even appointed as cabinet ministers.

Because of their political clout, the Khalistanis have also managed to get their sympathizers placed in various Canadian government agencies and services.

“The modus operandi of the Khalistanis is simple: control gurdwaras. They have managed to capture major gurdwaras in Ontario and British Columbia provinces where most of the Sikhs in Canada live,” says a Sikh realtor of Brampton, requesting anonymity.

All the political clout that the Khalistanis enjoy flows from their control of the gurdwaras because these religious places are the biggest gathering centres of the Sikh community, he says.

“The control of gurdwaras gives a huge clout to Khalistanis. All sorts of politicians run to them for votes and donations.”

Adds veteran Punjabi journalist Balraj Deol, “Politicians want votes and donations. And Khalistanis deliver them votes and notes in abundance. That’s how the Khalistanis have formed a deep nexus with politicians and mayors in Canada.”

This nexus has allowed the Khalistanis to exploit the Canadian political system to further their agenda, he says.

“Khalistanis have managed to get their sons and daughters placed in important positions in all political parties, get them elected as MPs and get ministerial berths. The fathers of two cabinet ministers have been known to be pro-Khalistan. The father of a Brampton-area MP was also a sympathizer of radicals,” says a Brampton-based mortgage broker who wanted to be identified only by his surname Gill.

He says the lure of votes and notes (donations) has made politicians ignore the agenda of the radicals. “Politicians pander to Khalistanis because Sikhs are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the Toronto and Vancouver areas. Politicians need their votes. Through their control of gurdwaras, Khalistani radicals deliver them the votes. They volunteer in large numbers for all political parties.”

With major gurdwaras in the Toronto and Vancouver areas perpetually under their control and many Indo-Canadian MPs getting elected with their support, Khalistanis in Canada will continue with their anti-India activities in the foreseeable future.

ALSO READ: Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in Nepal?

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National Security Advisor condemns attack on Indian Consulate

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (Rear) addresses a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS)

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that the US State Department is in touch with the local law enforcement authorities…reports Asian Lite News

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has condemned the attack that took place on Sunday on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistani separatist elements.

Sullivan said via Twitter that the US condemns the acts of violence against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. He further said that the US is committed to the safety and security of Indian diplomats. He confirmed that the US State Department is in touch with the local law enforcement authorities.

“We condemn the acts of violence against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. We are committed to the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomats who work within them. The State Department is in touch with local law enforcement on next steps in this matter,” Sullivan wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Even after the “condemnation”, more than 200 protesters waving Khalistan flags again descended upon the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Wednesday for a planned demonstration amid a heightened security presence of the San Francisco Police Department (SFDP).

Unlike the violent disorder on Sunday when the Consulate came under attack, the protesters were heavily barricaded across the road with uniformed SFPD officers standing guard and patrolling the area.

The protesters included turbaned men of all ages who chanted pro-Khalistan slogans. They came in from different parts of the Bay area.

The organisers used mics to make anti-India speeches both in English and Punjabi language and attack the Punjab Police for alleged human rights violations.

Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said vandalism at Indian Consulate in San Francisco is “absolutely unacceptable” and is condemned by the US.

“We certainly condemn that vandalism, it’s absolutely unacceptable. State Department’s diplomatic security service is working with local authorities to properly investigate. The state Department will work on infrastructure perspective to repair the damage,” Kirby said.

US State Department spokesperson told ANI: “The United States condemns the attack against the Indian Consulate and any attack against diplomatic facilities within the United States. We pledge to defend the safety and security of these facilities as well as the diplomats who work within them.

Khalistan supporters have started creating chaos across the world. After vandalism in London, Khalistan supporters attacked Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Videos of supporters breaking the doors and barging into the office surfaced on social media.

Visuals shared online show a huge mob brandishing Khalistan flags mounted on wooden poles, using them to smash glass doors and windows of the consulate building. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans as they broke through makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two Khalistani flags inside the premises.

In a meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi on Monday, India conveyed its strong protest at the vandalisation of the property of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco.

“The US Government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation. It was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Our Embassy in Washington D.C. also conveyed our concerns to the US State Department along similar lines,” read the Ministry of External Affairs press release. (ANI)

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Majority of Sikhs in UK reject Khalistan, says Blackman

London [UK], Mar 21 (ANI): United Kingdom MP Bob Blackman speaking at an all-parliamentary meeting in the UK , on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

The Punjab Police were chasing Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by the police, to nab him and his aides…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the ongoing rise in disruption of law and order by the extremist elements and the attack on the Indian consulate, the UK Conservative MP Bob Blackman on Monday said that the vast majority of Sikhs in the UK reject the Khalistani project.

He added that this is a very small section of society and that the authorities should deal with these elements properly and arrest them when such incidents occur. “This is a very small, ultra-small section of the Sikh community. The vast majority of Sikhs in this country absolutely reject the Khalistani project… It’s not going to happen as we know…My message is very simple to the police, when this happens, those people need to be arrested and dealt with properly,” UK MP Bob Blackman said in a statement at an all parliamentary meeting in the UK on Tuesday.

Blackman made the remarks after the Indian High Commission was vandalised by the separatist and extremist elements on Sunday against the crackdown on separatist elements in Punjab. He tweeted straight after the incident took place and wrote, “Disgraceful vandalism & disrespect to the flag of #India. My sympathies to the staff at the #IndianHighC Commission & @VDoraiswami in particular #JaiHind.”

The Punjab Police started the massive crackdown against Amritpal Singh and his aides on March 18. The police said that a total of 112 arrests have been made in the case so far, as 34 were arrested on Sunday, March 19. The police also said that the ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh was still on the run and a massive manhunt is launched to nab him.

The Punjab Police were chasing Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by the police, to nab him and his aides.

However, the life of people in Punjab returned to normalcy amid the ongoing crackdown continued to nab ‘Waris Punjab De’ Chief Amritpal Singh, despite police force being deployed at many locations in the state to maintain law and order.

Internet and SMS services are still suspended across the state. The suspension of mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services will continue till noon today.

Earlier in Februray, Blackman told, “There is a small Sikh population which are promoting Khalistan and Khalistani, not quite terrorism, in the UK but certainly disorder and that has to be prevented as well: British MP Bob Blackman on Khalistan issue.”

This is not the first time that such an incident is taking place in London. Earlier in 2018, some elements burnt the Indian flag in Central London while the London Metropolitan Police quietly watched the flag burning taking place right before its eyes.

The incident took place at Parliament Square as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the Indian community at Westminster.

The Indian tricolour was allegedly pulled down and ripped apart by a pro-Khalistani activist. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the 53 heads of Commonwealth nations attending the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London at that time. (ANI)

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After temples,Khalistanis target Indian consulate in Brisbane under

Beginning 2023, Hindu temples in Australia and Canada have seen a spurt in vandal attacks by Khalistani elements defacing the walls with anti-India slogans and graffiti….reports Asian Lite News

Following vandalisation of Hindu temples, Khalistani flags were found attached to the Indian consulate in Brisbane, just days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Australia.

According to The Australia Today, Honorary Consul of India in Brisbane Archana Singh found the Khalistan flag attached to the office on February 22.

“Police are surveilling the area to keep us safe. We have strong faith in police authority,” Singh, who had informed the Queensland police immediately about the incident, said.

The incident, which took place on February 21, comes just days after two Hindu temples received threatening calls from Khalistani supporters.

In one of the calls, the President and the Vice President of Gayatri Mandir in Brisbane were asked to raise ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans and support the referendum.

Before this, the Kali Mata temple in Melbourne received a threat call this week, asking it to cancel a religious event or face consequences.

Beginning 2023, Hindu temples in Australia and Canada have seen a spurt in vandal attacks by Khalistani elements defacing the walls with anti-India slogans and graffiti.

Between January 12 to 23, three prominent Hindu temples in Melbourne were targetted.

“The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which include glorification of anti-Indian terrorists,” the Indian High Commission in Australia said in a strongly-worded statement.

Indians in Australia said they are “angry, scared and dismayed by the blatant display of religious hatred towards the peaceful Hindu community by Khalistan supporters”.

According to census data, Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia.

In the 2021 Australian census, Hinduism grew by 55.3 per cent to 684,002 people.

ALSO READ: Big relief for foreign students in Australia

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Setback for India as Interpol rejcets request for notice against Khalistani leader

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in London (File)

Pannu has been named as an accused in terror and riot cases by a number of agencies in India….reports Asian Lite News

The Interpol has rejected the request of the Indian agencies regarding issuance of a Red Corner Notice against Khalistani leader — the Canada-based founder of Sikh for Justice (SFJ) Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.

The Interpol had put the request of issuing Red Corner Notice on hold for six months before cancelling it.

Pannu has been named as an accused in terror and riot cases by a number of agencies in India. He has been accused of provoking Khalistani movements in India.

It was the second time when the request of the Indian agencies have been turned down.

Around six to seven months ago, the request of issuing a red corner notice was put on hold by the Interpol.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannu(twitter)

Indian agencies maintained that Pannu had tried to create unrest in India and was accused of Unlawful Activities.

However, the Interpol was not convinced by this and after putting on hold the request of agencies, they have finally cancelled it. Interpol has demanded more proof against Pannu.

Pannu has been continuously sending video message through social media regarding Khalistani movements.

During farmers’ agitation, he had provoked the farmers to attack the Red Fort and had also released a video in this respect.

Pannu has threatened the government on a number of occasions and had indicated in the videos that they could attack the Prime Minister.

He founded the SFJ in 2007 with an intention to give relief to the 1984 victims.

However, he has been using this against India and to create Khalistan. He said that he would break India into several parts and one of them would be Khalistan.

The agencies have learnt that he has no concern with the common Sikhs.

He has allegedly been working at the behest of “agents of enemy states”.

The MHA had in 2019 declared SFJ as “unlawful association” under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

In most of the videos, Pannu could be heard talking about referendum regarding Khalistan.

ALSO READ: Hindu temple vandalised in Canada with pro-Khalistan graffiti

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India seeks extradition of Khalistani Hardeep Nijjar from Canada

unjab police seeks extradition of Canada-based Khalistani Hardeep Nijjar.(photo:IN)

Nijjar was declared a designated terrorist along with 8 others by India on July 1, 2020, a report by Rajinder S. Taggar

The Punjab police have sought the extradition of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) settled in Canada, who is wanted in cases related to acts of reviving terrorism in the state.

A senior officer disclosed that the demand seeking Nijjar’s extradition is in pursuance of a lookout circular (LOC) issued on January 23, 2015, and a red corner notice issued on March 14, 2016, based where he is accused of terrorist activities. Nijjar was declared a designated terrorist along with 8 others by India on July 1, 2020. A reward of Rs 10 lakh was declared on his head in July this year.

A dossier prepared by the Punjab police reveals that Nijjar was a close associate of Jagtar Singh Tara earlier based in Pakistan in 2012. He visited Pakistan in April 2012 to meet Tara.

Nijjar raised a KTF module in Punjab by motivating Parminder Kala, a resident of Mughal Majri in Ropar district for targeting Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala and Sanjeev Ghanouli, a Shiv Sena leader, for their alleged anti-panthic activities.

In December 2015, Nijjar reportedly organised an arms training camp in Mission Hills, BC, Canada wherein Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal originally a resident of Chak Kalan in the Ludhiana district, and 3 other youths were imparted training to use AK-47 assault rifles, sniper rifles, and pistols. Mandeep was sent to Punjab in January 2016 to carry out targeted killings but he was arrested in June before he could execute the plan.

This correspondent in a WhatsApp message to Nijjar sought to know his side of the story but he did not reply. He also declined a WhatsApp call.

In an interview with Vancouver-based journalist Kuldeep Mann aired last week by TV Punjab, Nijjar had denied allegations about his involvement in terrorist activities. “I have been in Canada for over 30 years. I am a sewadar of a gurdwara in Vancouver. I am being wrongly targeted,” he claimed.

According to the police dossier, in 2020, Nijjar in association with gangster Arshdeep Singh Dala of Moga (now hiding in Canada) raised a four-member KTF module in Punjab. The module succeeded in killing Manohar Lal, a Dera Sacha Sauda follower in Bhagta Baika in Bathinda district on November 20, 2020. Besides, they killed Shakti Singh, a resident of village Dagu Romana in Faridkot district, in July 2021, and Tejinder Pinka, owner of Sunshine Cloth Store in Moga on July 14, 2021. Three module members were arrested with arms which included three .32 bore pistols and one .315 bore pistol with 53 cartridges.

In September 2021, Nijjar sent a weapon consignment comprising 2 tiffin bombs, 2 hand grenades, and 3 pistols of .9 mm from across the border. But the Punjab police busted the three-member module comprising Kanwarpal Singh, Kulwinder Singh, and Kamalpreet Singh, all residents of Moga who were to retrieve the weapons.

Another 3-member module working for Nijjar was busted by the Haryana police on February 19, 2022, who were involved in contract killings in Punjab. They had killed sarpanch Avtar Singh of village Udhampur in Ropar district. An AK-47 rifle with 49 cartridges and 3 US-made pistols were recovered from them.

In a separate dossier prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Nijjar’s anti-India activities in Canada have been highlighted. He is suspected to be behind the killing of a Sikh leader Ripudaman Singh Mallik in Surrey on July 14, this year.

Mallik while talking to journalist Sameer Kaushal of Sher-E-Punjab radio, Vancouver, a few days before his murder termed Nijjar and his accomplice, Moninder Boyle, as being anti-Akal Takht sahib. “The control of Gurdwaras in Canada has now gone into the hands of those who are undisciplined and do not care for Sikh Maryada. They recognised Jagtar Hawara, convicted for the assassination of the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995 as the Jathedar of Akal Takht,” he lamented.

The NIA dossier maintains that to reach the truth of Ripudaman’s murder, the Canadian police need to thoroughly interrogate Nijjar and his accomplices. The arrest of two suspects, Tanner Fox, 21, and Jose Lopez, 23, does not explain the motive behind the crime.

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