India's Searing Response: Shocking Revelation Exposes Canada as Hub for Terrorism
India accuses Canada of being a terrorist safe haven after suspending visas for Canadians, escalating tension over Canada's claim that India may be involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist activist
India accused Canada of being a "safe haven for terrorists" after Canada suspended visas for its citizens. This came after Canada accused India of potentially being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist activist on Canadian soil. Indias foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, released a statement expressing concern over Canada's international reputation in light of these allegations.
"He stated that Canada should seriously consider addressing reputational issues and the potential damage to its image. Canada has been increasingly seen as a safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organized crime, and this needs to be addressed. These remarks were made in response to India's decision to temporarily halt visa applications from Canadian citizens due to alleged security threats against their diplomats."
"The incitement of violence, the Canadian authorities' inaction, and the creation of a disruptive environment for our high commission and consulates are the reasons behind our temporary suspension of visa issuance and visa services," stated Bagchi.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hand with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi on September 9, 2023.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
India has decided to suspend the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens as tensions escalate between the two nations. The situation worsened when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that India may have played a role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist activist who was fatally shot by two unidentified individuals in Surrey, British Columbia in June.
India has strongly refuted the accusations, dismissing them as "ridiculous and biased." Bagchi emphasized that Canada has failed to offer any concrete evidence to substantiate the claims.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India released a notice on Thursday, urging television channels to avoid providing a platform for individuals accused of grave offenses, such as terrorism or affiliation with outlawed organizations, as per the law.
The Indian government has consistently criticized Canada for its alleged lack of action in addressing Sikh separatist extremism, which seeks to establish a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan, encompassing parts of India's Punjab state. Nijjar, known for his strong advocacy for the creation of Khalistan, is regarded by India as a significant menace to national security.
Groups affiliated with the Khalistan movement are designated as "terrorist organizations" according to India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Nijjar's name is included among the UAPA terrorists, and in 2020, the Indian National Investigation Agency accused him of attempting to radicalize the global Sikh community in support of Khalistan's formation.
Various Sikh organizations abroad argue that the Indian government unjustly associates the movement with terrorism. They vow to continue peacefully advocating for Khalistan's creation, all the while shedding light on longstanding human rights violations endured by the Sikh community in India.
The history of Khalistan
The Sikhs previously possessed their independent realm in the Punjab region, and the aspiration for the establishment of Khalistan originated several decades ago, roughly during India's liberation from British colonial rule in 1947.
Partition, which quickly divided the ex-colony based on religious lines by relocating Muslims to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs to India, resulted in Punjab, which was divided in half, witnessing severe violence.
The Sikh community endured significant suffering during the subsequent bloodshed and felt marginalized in the predominantly Hindu nation, leading to influential leaders advocating for the establishment of Khalistan. In the years that followed, numerous violent confrontations ensued between followers of the movement and the Indian government, resulting in a significant loss of life.
In the 1980s, there was a ten-year insurgency in Punjab led by certain Khalistani militants, who were responsible for numerous human rights violations such as the targeted killing of civilians, widespread bombings, and assaults on Hindus, as reported by Human Rights Watch.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi on September 9.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Canada and India find themselves embroiled in an unparalleled diplomatic dispute, and here is the sequence of events that unfolded.
According to the rights group, during counterinsurgency operations, Indian security forces engaged in the arbitrary detention, torture, execution, and "disappearance" of a substantial number of Sikhs. Moreover, the Indian government implemented counterinsurgency legislation that not only enabled human rights infringements but also provided protection to the security personnel involved, shielding them from any form of accountability.
In 1984, the Indian troops, under the command of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, were directed to forcibly enter the Golden Temple in Amritsar - the paramount place of worship for the Sikh faith - with the objective of eliminating Sikh separatists. This military action resulted in significant resentment and indignation among the Sikh community. Tragically, Gandhi was later assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards, sparking a fresh wave of violence, which claimed the lives of over 3,000 individuals, predominantly Sikhs.
A year later,
The Khalistan movement now
, the violence extended to Canada with the bombing of an Air India plane by Sikh separatists. The plane, which had departed from Toronto airport, tragically claimed the lives of all 329 individuals on board, including a significant number of Canadians of Indian descent.There is currently no insurgency in Punjab, and experts observe that supporters of the Khalistan movement are largely marginalized in India. Nonetheless, the movement still garners sympathy from certain Sikhs in the global diaspora, particularly in Canada, Britain, and Australia.
A minority group of Sikhs strongly advocate for Khalistan, and they occasionally hold referendums to gain a majority consensus for the creation of an independent homeland. The untimely death of Nijjar disheartened and enraged numerous members of the Sikh community in Canada, which boasts a population of over 770,000 and is among the largest Sikh communities outside of India.
Canadian police have yet to make any arrests related to Nijjars murder. However, in August, authorities disclosed their ongoing investigation into three individuals and released details about a potential escape vehicle, seeking assistance from the general public.
