India’s Intelligence agencies have raised concerns over pro-Khalistani entities (PKE) and growing political support to them in Canada, warning about “aggressive and intensified” activities against Indians and officials living in the country.
Releasing fresh input on PKEs, the agencies shared that they can target temples, Indians living in Canada and Indian entrepreneurs running businesses there. The agencies added that clashes between PKEs and Indians can be reported in the coming days.
Most of these entities are banned in India under UAPA and their leaders declared terrorists by the Union government.
Concerns have also been raised over the security of the office of the Indian High Commission in the Canadian consulate as it has come to the notice of the agencies that Khalistani groups may intensify their protests — which will be violent — against Indian officials.
The Indian diplomatic representation in Canada comprises the High Commission at Ottawa, which is the principal mission and overall in charge, and the Consulates General at Toronto and Vancouver.
Top sources, while quoting an input, said it was earlier noticed that PKEs were threatening Indians living in different areas of Canada and the groups were likely to target those who run restaurants, cafes etc., which are more vulnerable. Similarly, students residing in Canada may also face clashes in different cities.
In the past six months, there have been multiple cases where PKEs have defaced Indian temples and statues of Mahatma Gandhi. There have also been instances where cafe owners have been asked to shut down if they do not support the Khalistan agenda. Temples have been targeted by Khalistani groups and vandalised but no action has been taken by the local police yet.
The tension between India and Canada rose further on Monday after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau questioned India’s role in the June 2023 killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
Rejecting Trudeau’s statement as well as that of the Canadian foreign minister, India’s external affairs ministry said in a press release: “Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected.”
Hours after Trudeau made the allegations, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly told media outlets that her government has expelled a senior Indian diplomat over the killing of Nijjar. India too retaliated by expelling a Canadian diplomat on Monday.
Meanwhile, Trudeau, in another statement, said: “The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate.”
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