Sikhs For Justice urges Indian-Canadians to avoid the consulate amid escalating tensions over alleged espionage.
Sikhs For Justice, a pro-Khalistan organization that has been banned in India, has announced plans for a 12-hour “siege” of the Indian consulate in Vancouver, Canada, scheduled for Thursday. This announcement comes as the group has urged Indian-Canadians to refrain from visiting the diplomatic mission on September 18, citing safety concerns amid escalating tensions.
The organization has accused the Indian consulate of operating a spy network aimed at targeting supporters of Khalistan, which is envisioned by some groups as an independent state for Sikhs. Sikhs For Justice claims that this network continues to surveil individuals involved in the Khalistan referendum campaign, despite a previous acknowledgment from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau two years ago regarding credible allegations linking Indian agents to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist leader.
Nijjar was fatally shot near Vancouver in June 2023, an event that has since heightened scrutiny and tensions between India and Canada. Sikhs For Justice specifically highlighted that, even after two years since Trudeau’s statements, Indian consulates persist in their alleged espionage activities against those advocating for Khalistan.
The Indian government has categorically rejected Canada’s allegations, deeming them as “absurd and motivated.” Officials in New Delhi have suggested that such claims are an attempt by Ottawa to distract from the presence of Khalistani terrorists and extremists in Canada, whom they argue pose a threat to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Wednesday, Sikhs For Justice intensified its campaign by releasing a poster that depicts Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik with a target symbol superimposed on his image. The poster refers to Patnaik as the “new face of India’s Hindutva terror in Canada,” further escalating the rhetoric surrounding the diplomatic tensions.
This situation arises against the backdrop of ongoing discussions and differing perspectives on the presence and activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, as well as the broader implications for Indian-Canadian relations. The organization continues to mobilize support among the diaspora, advocating for the Khalistan cause while facing opposition from the Indian government.
As the date of the planned siege approaches, concerns about safety and diplomatic repercussions are likely to grow, reflecting the complex and often contentious nature of international relations involving nationalist movements and state actions.
