K-Group's Protest in Surrey Gurdwara Today; India Says 'Let's Not Normalise What's Happening in Canada'

India-Canada Issue Updates: Amid continuing diplomatic tension between New Delhi and Ottawa, a Khalistani group have called another anti-India rally in a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey. The organisers of the rally are planning to bring together Sikh radicals from across Canada in one place. Invites have been circulated asking leading community voices to discuss the rising threat of Indian violence in Canada and how to formulate an effective “Panthic” response, according to sources.

They further said that all types of radical voices are expected to gather in Surrey, where they will speak against India and plan their next move.

This comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is “very serious” about building closer ties with India as it is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. However, Trudeau added that wants New Delhi to work with Ottawa to ensure that they get the full facts about the killing of pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India Canada Ties

Tensions flared between India and Canada following Trudeau’s explosive allegations of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Nijjar on his country’s soil on June 18 in British Columbia.

India angrily rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.

Nijjar, who worked as a plumber, left Punjab a quarter-century ago and became a Canadian citizen. He has supported the formation of a Sikh homeland. India designated him a “terrorist” in July 2020.

Protests In Canada

Earlier on September 25, Canadian Sikhs staged small protests outside India’s diplomatic missions, burning an Indian flag, while waiving yellow flags marked with the word “Khalistan”, referring to their support for making Punjab an independent state.

India’s Response

Hitting out at Canada, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said it is necessary to call out things like violence, threats and intimidation against Indian diplomats and missions and wondered if this had happened to any other country would the world have taken it with equanimity.

“Let’s not normalise what is happening in Canada,” Jaishankar said during an interaction with Indian journalists here on Friday.

“We have had an ongoing problem with Canada and the Canadian government for some years now. The ongoing problem really revolves around the permissiveness to terrorism, extremism and violence. This permissiveness is also reflected in the fact that some important extradition requests have not been responded to from their side,” he said.

“We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission, we have had violence in front of consulates, there are posters put up. Do you consider this normal? If this had happened to any other country, how would they react? Let’s not normalise what is happening in Canada. It is important to call out what is happening there,” Jaishankar said.

“What is happening in Canada, had it happened anywhere else, do you think the world would’ve taken it with equanimity?” he asked.

When asked about Trudeau’s allegations, he said India has already pointed out to Canada that this is not the government of India’s policy. “But if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that’s where the matter stands,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said one of the problems is that no incident is isolated and the totality as there is a context for everything. “There are multiple problems out there. So, I guess in the case of individual incidents, the concerned governments will have to talk to each other and see how they sort of take it forward,” he said.

“But there is a larger issue. And I think it’s important that the larger issue should be flagged. The larger issue is this permissiveness that I have spoken about,” he said.

Indian Envoy Intimidated In Scotland

In the wake of a diplomatic row between India and Canada, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from attending a programme at a Glasgow gurdwara by some fringe elements on Friday.

The Indian High Commission on Saturday said that it has reported this “disgraceful incident” to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police.

In a statement, the Indian High Commission in London said: “On September 29, 2023, three persons — all from areas outside Scotland — deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organized by the Gurdwara Committee for the community, the High Commissioner and the Consul General of India. This interaction was to discuss community and consular issues.”

The statement said that the organisers included senior community leaders, ladies and Committee members, and a member of Scottish Parliament.

“They were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the High Commissioner and Consul General decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival,” it said.

It further said that one of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the HC’s car door – “a matter that will require suitable police consideration”.

“It is due to the quick reaction of one of the organizers, who physically intervened at the car door, that a bigger incident was avoided,” it said.

“The High Commission of India has reported this disgraceful incident to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police. Multiple community organisations including the organisers have formally regretted the incident and have urged the authorities to take action against the culprits,” the statement added.

‘Not Done Enough’

Expressing his concerns over the recent rise in the incidents of Khalistan extremism, Colin Bloom, former advisor to the UK government said that the situation has escalated because the ‘Western governments’ have “not done enough” to tackle the sinister and aggressive behaviour of extremists.

Bloom stressed that both the British and Canadian governments should take more proactive measures to address this issue. He warned that the situation could spiral “out of control” if the issue is not addressed.

In an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Colin Bloom said, “What I think we’re seeing at the moment is a rise of pro-Khalistan extremism…Now, look, just for the record, I am 100 per cent in favour of free speech and people being free to think and believe and support pretty much anything that they want, so long as they don’t harm and intimidate and harass other people.”

(With Inputs from Agencies)