In a powerful call to action, representatives of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in British Columbia, along with members of the Sikh independence movement, have urged the Canadian government to shut down Indian consulates in Vancouver and Toronto. This demand follows the tragic shooting of their temple president, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, last year and recent diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
The situation escalated after the Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, accusing them of involvement in serious crimes like homicide and extortion, linked to the Khalistan independence movement. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed they have gathered evidence implicating the diplomats in these criminal activities.
The assassination of Nijjar in June 2023, a prominent leader in the Sikh community and advocate for Khalistan independence, is believed to be linked to Indian government involvement, according to credible intelligence shared by Canadian authorities. Gurkeerat Singh, a spokesman for the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, expressed the community’s concerns: “The safety and security of Sikhs will still be in question unless India’s consulates are shut down.”
India has denied the accusations, rejecting claims that its diplomats engaged in covert information gathering on South Asian Canadians, later used by criminals to threaten or harm Sikh activists.
Jatinder Singh Grewal, from the advocacy group Sikhs for Justice, pointed to an ongoing threat facing the Sikh community. He highlighted that since the expulsion of another Indian diplomat in September 2023, the RCMP indicated that the risk to Canadian Sikhs had only increased. “We strongly believe that the threat will not subside. It will increase,” Grewal warned, emphasizing the Indian government’s efforts to quell Punjab’s right to self-determination.
Labeling the Indian consulates as “houses of terror,” Grewal urged their closure to safeguard Canadian sovereignty and Sikh safety. This follows a similar incident last year when Pavan Kumar Rai, an Indian intelligence agent in Ottawa, was also expelled.
As India responded to the latest expulsions by expelling six Canadian diplomats, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Canadian intelligence services are continuing to investigate possible links between the Indian government and Nijjar’s assassination. Four Indian nationals have since been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection to the killing.
Grewal also underscored that the diplomats accused of gathering intelligence on Sikh activities in Canada were the real issue, not just the individuals who carried out the assassination. RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme stated that Indian diplomats allegedly used their positions to gather and share information on pro-Khalistani Sikhs with Indian authorities.
The RCMP is currently investigating three homicides across the country that may be linked to India, though it has not been confirmed if Nijjar’s case is included.
In his closing statement, Grewal reiterated the need for immediate action: “We cannot allow this to continue because it endangers Canadian safety and sovereignty.”
This remains a developing story. Stay tuned to Update News for the latest updates on this situation.
