In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed security concerns, Khalistani separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in collaboration with the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Temple, has opened what they are calling an “Embassy of Khalistan” within the premises of a prominent gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, according to a report by CNN-News18.
A large signboard reading “Republic of Khalistan” now adorns the entrance of the building situated inside the gurdwara complex, which has long served as a key hub for the Sikh community in the region.
What makes the development more contentious is the reported financial involvement of the British Columbia provincial government. Local residents informed media that the building currently being used as the so-called embassy was partially funded through public grants. The provincial government allegedly allocated 150,000 dollars for installing an elevator in the structure, raising serious questions about taxpayer money indirectly supporting an entity associated with separatist propaganda.
This move comes at a time when Canada’s own intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has publicly acknowledged the presence and activities of Khalistani extremists on Canadian soil. In its latest annual report, CSIS warned that “Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising, or planning of violence primarily in India.”
The agency classified such activities under Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE), describing it as the “advocacy or use of violence to establish new political systems or structures”. The report further stated that PMVE actors actively plan, finance, and facilitate attacks globally to advance their ideological objectives.
India has repeatedly raised strong objections with Ottawa over Khalistani extremism flourishing in Canada, accusing separatist groups of exploiting the country’s liberal policies to propagate an anti-India agenda. The latest development adds fuel to an already tense diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
The Khalistan movement, pushing for a separate Sikh homeland carved out of Punjab, has its roots in the 1980s and has been linked to several violent incidents, including the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing, one of the deadliest aviation terror attacks in history.
Despite these past events, Canada continues to face criticism for allegedly providing safe haven to extremists under the pretext of protecting free speech and political expression.
The opening of this so-called embassy is likely to escalate tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, already strained after recent political controversies and trade disputes. Such symbolic acts could embolden separatist outfits and increase the risk of radicalisation among diaspora communities.
