Khalistani Outfit Announces Siege On Indian Consulate In Vancouver

As India and Canada resume diplomatic ties, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based Khalistani outfit, has threatened to "siege" the Indian Consulate in Vancouver. The pro-Khalistan group said it will take over the Indian consulate on Thursday and asked Indo-Canadians, planning a routine visit to the consulate, to choose another date.

They also released a poster showing the new Indian High Commissioner, Dinish Patnaik, with a target on his face. In a statement, the group accused Indian consulates of running a spy network and surveillance targeting Khalistanis.

"Two years ago -- 18 September 2023 -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament that the Indian agents' role was under investigation in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar," the statement said.

"Two years on, Indian Consulates continue to run a spy network and surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners," it added.

The group alleged that the threat to them "was so grave" that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had to offer "witness protection" to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who assumed leadership of the Khalistan Referendum campaign after Nijjar's death.

SFF claimed that through the "siege", the group will demand "accountability" for so-called "espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil."

There was no immediate comment from the Ministry of External Affairs in India or the Indian Consulate in Vancouver at the time of filing this report.

Khalistani Extremism in Canada

Earlier this month, the Canadian government, in an internal report, acknowledged that extremist Khalistani groups were receiving financial support from individuals and networks based in Canada.

These groups include Babbar Khalsa International and the International SYF, both of which are listed as terrorist organisations under Canada's Criminal Code. The report noted that now these extremist groups mostly operate through smaller groups of individuals who support the Khalistan cause without being tied to any specific organisation.