Khalistanis – Central News Hub

Khalistanis begin poster war in UK against Indian diplomats

The External Affairs minister S Jaishankar has warned Justin Trudeau government that inaction on his part can strain diplomatic relations…reports Asian Lite News

Continuing its poster war, Khalistani radicals have now released another one in the UK bearing pictures of top Indian diplomats– High Commissioner Vikram K Doraiswami and Counsel General Dr Shashank Vikram. The emergence of these posters is a sequel to the ones that appeared in Canada, Australia and USA threatening top Indian diplomats.

A video of Khalistani radicals setting the Indian Consulate on fire in San Francisco was released on social media yesterday, which led to a major uproar. The latest poster that is going viral on social media also gives a call for a protest march called ‘Kill India’ by Khalistanis on July 8 and has names and numbers of the organisers. The rally is being called by the banned radical outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) whose supremo terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun continues to be in hiding after one of the key leaders Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down in Canada.

Highly placed sources reveal that the rally, posters and arson attempt is part of ‘Operation 21’ announced by Pannun on June 30 at a meeting held in Canada. Sources also claim that a decision was taken at this meeting not only tarnish India’s image through a campaign in many different countries including Canada, Australia, America, UK, Germany, France and New Zealand, but also to protest violently at 21 embassies. The Khalistani supporters spread in different countries in the world have been asked to form groups of twenty-one people each, who will ensure their voice is ‘heard outside embassies’.

Slated to be backed by ISI and terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) the operation is being cited as the last desperate attempt by the Khalistanis to stay relevant after constant crackdown by Indian law enforcement agencies and elimination of their leaders apparently due to internal gang wars. The radical movement has lost three key leaders Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Avtar Singh Khanda and Hardeep Nijjar in the last two months. While Khanda died owing to oncological complications the other two were gunned down by unidentified assailants.

Indian authorities meanwhile have reached out to UK and US counterparts and summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to India, issuing a demarche citing the country’s apparent inaction against growing anti-India activities by Khalistani groups. The External Affairs minister S Jaishankar has warned Justin Trudeau government that inaction on his part can strain diplomatic relations.

Though times have changed and Indian approach to foreign based terror is far more proactive, some former diplomats nevertheless cite the ‘Mhatre moment’ of 1984. Ravinder Mhatre was a 48 year old Indian Diplomat in the UK who was assassinated by Kashmiri separatists. It was alleged that despite repeated alarms, the Birmingham Police did not take the complaint about his abduction by separatists seriously and his body was found 48 hours later with two bullet shots in the head and body. “Canada’s response to the Indira Gandhi float and these posters remind us all of the 1984 response of UK police then. The country needs to wake up to the threat voiced by India multiple times during this year,” said a former diplomat.

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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.

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