The Khalistani activists in Canada targeted Canadians themselves this time for attack. In a recent two-minute viral video of a ‘Nagar Kirtan’, the Khalistan sympathizers termed Canadians as “invaders” and asked them to “go back to England and Europe.” The participants say in the footage, “This is Canada, our own country. You go back,” thus underlining an increasing sense of entitlement on the part of the factions.
Indian intelligence sources characterized it as part of the “new normal” in Canada and warned that Khalistani groups were taking over significant parts of Canadian life. Reports said protection money is being demanded from local Hindus, and locals now are afraid for their safety in their communities.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained since the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani sympathizer who was designated as a terrorist by India. The diplomatic fallout peaked when both nations expelled each other’s top diplomats after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Canadian police of investigating allegations that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing.
India has strongly denied these allegations as “absurd,” accusing Trudeau of providing asylum to Khalistani extremists who do not just plot against India but even intimidate Hindus in Canada. After several incidents of brutal attacks on Hindu worshippers at Canadian temples, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently denounced the violence, describing these as “targeted attacks.
With these tensions as a backdrop, Indian intelligence and government officials speculate that Trudeau might be aligning with Khalistani groups so that he could seek the support of MP Jagmeet Singh in the upcoming elections when his popularity was on the decline. Analysts say Trudeau’s allegations against India are not based on solid proof but based on intelligence inputs only.
Intelligence sources have come out to criticize Trudeau’s approach, which they say plays into the hands of foreign interests, considering his case as an unfounded accusation. In turn, they said it undermined his credibility and bilateral relations.
The discourse has reached a fever pitch, where intelligence officials are demanding transparency regarding the politicians who briefed Trudeau on the alleged Indian involvement in the killing, while claiming the Canadian Parliament had turned into a platform for Khalistani sympathizers. This brings into question the integrity of leadership and, by extension, Canada-India relations.
