Khalistan Extremism: Canada’s Silence on Violent Rhetoric Sparks Alarm

Poonam Sharma 

A Canadian investigative journalist, Mocha Bezirgan, has raised serious concerns about the presence and activities of Khalistani extremists in Canada, alleging threats against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This alarming development comes just ahead of the G7 Summit, where PM Modi has been invited despite ongoing tensions between India and Canada.

A troubling pattern of recurring protests, often featuring the same individuals traversing international borders, is raising significant concerns regarding the nature and implications of Khalistan-related activism, particularly within Canada. While a veneer of grassroots support is often presented, the pervasive influence of established and politically powerful organizations, such as the Canada-based World Sikh Organization (WSO) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is increasingly coming under scrutiny for providing crucial political cover and meticulously mobilizing support for these contentious demonstrations.

Eyewitness accounts from a diverse array of locations, including key Canadian provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, as well as international hubs such as the US, UK, and New Zealand, consistently highlight a startling presence of the very same individuals at these protests. These activists, frequently observed moving between different countries, are instrumental in orchestrating local support, adeptly drawing crowds from local Gurudwaras and broader community networks to significantly bolster their numbers. This discernible pattern strongly suggests a highly coordinated effort that extends far beyond spontaneous, isolated local grievances, pointing instead to a well-oiled international network.

However, the deepest layers of concern emanate from the activities of larger, more politically entrenched organizations like the World Sikh Organization (WSO), which maintains its headquarters in Canada. The WSO has a documented history of advocating for Sikh interests on a global scale, yet simultaneously faces persistent allegations of promoting or enabling extremism. A critical aspect of this concern is the deep-seated integration of the WSO’s executives within the Canadian political landscape. Many of its leaders currently hold or have previously held influential positions within Canadian politics, with their children reportedly serving as Members of Parliament, ministers, or occupying other critical governmental and institutional roles. This profound permeation into Canadian institutions seemingly allows the WSO to provide a significant, almost impenetrable, “political cover” for activities that might otherwise be met with public and official condemnation.

The current geopolitical climate, characterized by heightened and increasingly public tensions between Canada and India, further complicates an already delicate issue. Critics vehemently argue that this strained political backdrop inadvertently leads to a disconcerting disregard for the explicit, often inflammatory, and overtly provocative rhetoric emanating from these protests. On the ground, participants are observed exercising what they vociferously claim is their right to free speech. Yet, this exercise frequently includes the open celebration of the assassins of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and explicit discussions, sometimes veiled, sometimes direct, about plans to “ambush and kill” India’s Prime Minister Modi’s “politics” at the upcoming G7 summit.2 This euphemism, “Modi’s politics,” is often employed, yet the underlying intent of violence is thinly disguised.

When directly pressed by observers and journalists on how they intend to carry out such ominous threats, protestors have reportedly drawn chilling parallels to the brutal assassination of Indira Gandhi. They openly refer to her assassins as their “forefathers” and proudly proclaim themselves to be the direct “descendants of the killers of Indira Gandhi.”3 Furthermore, they unabashedly glorify the suicide bomber responsible for the tragic killing of Punjab’s chief minister, overtly celebrating these acts of violence. Despite a substantial body of photographic and video evidence documenting these inflammatory pronouncements, there appears to be a perplexing and notable reluctance among Canadian politicians to publicly condemn or vociferously speak out against such groups.

This perceived silence, or even tacit acceptance, from Canadian political figures is particularly alarming given the well-established involvement of organizations like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in directly organizing and facilitating these events. SFJ, a prominent entity known for its aggressive advocacy for a separate Khalistan, plays a significant, if not central, role in orchestrating these protests, thereby further amplifying the dangerous calls for violence and secession. The consistent and repeated attendance of the same core group of individuals at these international demonstrations, often facilitated and legitimized by larger, politically connected bodies, underscores the highly organized, ideologically driven, and sustained nature of this activism. This raises profound questions about accountability, the limits of free speech when it incites violence, and the potential far-reaching implications for Canada’s vital international relations, especially with a key democratic partner like India. The continued operation of these groups and their rhetoric, unaddressed, risks normalizing dangerous narratives and undermining efforts towards peaceful diplomatic engagement.