Dozens of Khalistani protestors gathered outside the Indian Consulate in the city of Vancouver to protest against the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar an act which the Canadian government has attributed to the agents of the Indian government. This comes after the Khalistani extremist and terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun called for a demonstration outside many Indian consulates in Canada and threatened them to shut down.
The protestors referred to Nijjar’s killing as an assassination and demanded a public enquiry into the case, the Canadian media reported.
Insult to the Tricolour
During demonstrations, the protestors displayed Khalistani flags They also played music and shouted slogans. In an act of sheer disgrace, some of the protestors even burned Indian flags in garbage near the Indian consulate. Numerous protests were held in Toronto. The Canadian government has so far failed to explain proof of its bizarre allegations against the world’s largest democracy, India.
Warning from other Khalistani Organisations
With no end in sight for the India-Canada diplomatic row, the World Sikh Organisation has issued a warning about potential incitement and interference and told its members to remain vigilant. In a statement by the organisation’s president, Tejindeer Singh Sidhu called for the arrest of perpetrators of the death given to Hardeep Singh Nijjar to be identified. He also encouraged community members to promptly contact law enforcement agencies if they feel threatened or unsafe or witnessed attempts to incite violence.
Jatinder Singh Grewal, the director of the banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) told a media agency on September 24, 2023, that his organisation will lead the demonstrations outside the Indian embassies and consulates in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver to increase public awareness over Nijjar’s Killing and has also openly declared and asked the Canadian government to expel the Indian ambassador,” Grewal said
Security Measures
In anticipation of protests organised by Khalistani supporters, the Vancouver Police Department had closed the road around the Indian Consulate and set up barriers blocking the entrance. The India-Canada relations continue to remain strained. Nijjar was designated as a global terrorist and was killed outside a Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.
India has rejected these allegations in strong words and is cracking down on the Khalistani elements in the country as well as abroad. New Delhi has dismissed the accusations and termed them as absurd and motivated. In response to a similar move by Canada, India also expelled a Canadian diplomat. The situation has added tensions to the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Apart from Vancouver, the Indian missions in Toronto, and Ottawa have been surrounded by barricades, and Federal Police Personnel have been deployed to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, the media outlet NDTV citing sources revealed that pro-Khalistani elements and extremists in Canada have already begun to openly harass the Hindus and vandalize temples.
US Reaction to the Row
As per reports, US President Joe Biden, who is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance raised the issue with India at the G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi. In the latest comments by the US, the State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said “We are deeply concerned by the allegations referenced by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
We remain in close contact with our Canadian Partners. We believe that it is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and that the perpetrators be brought to justice, We have publicly and privately urged the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation.”
