How Canada Has Turned Into A Safe Sanctuary For Khalistani Separatists

Canada has a large and influential Sikh population, estimated at around 500,000 people. Many of them are descendants of immigrants who came to Canada in the early 20th century, fleeing persecution and discrimination in British India. Some of them also supported the Khalistan movement, which seeks to create a separate Sikh state in the Punjab region of northern India.

The Khalistan movement emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. The movement reached its peak in 1984, when Gandhi ordered a military operation to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism, in Amritsar. The operation, codenamed Blue Star, caused some damage to the temple complex. It also triggered a violent backlash from Sikhs across India and abroad, culminating in the assassination of Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards later that year.

In Canada, many Sikhs expressed their solidarity with the Khalistan cause and condemned the Indian government’s actions. Some of them also resorted to violence and terrorism, such as the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, which killed 329 people, mostly Canadians of Indian origin. The bombing was carried out by members of a radical Sikh group called Babbar Khalsa, which was based in Canada and supported by some Canadian politicians and activists.

Since then, Canada has willy-nilly been guilty of harboring and supporting Khalistani separatists, who continue to advocate for an independent Sikh homeland through political and sometimes violent means. India has also alleged that Canada has interfered in its internal affairs by raising human rights issues related to Sikhs in India, such as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Canada has recently accused India’s government of being behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader and Canadian citizen who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., on June 18, 2023. Canada’s claims are based on intelligence reports and evidence collected by its law enforcement agencies. Canada has also demanded an explanation from India for its alleged role in the assassination and has warned that it will not tolerate any foreign interference or threat to its national security or sovereignty.

India has rejected Canada’s allegations as “absurd” and “baseless”, and has accused Canada of trying to deflect attention from its own failure to prevent or solve Nijjar’s murder. India has also expressed its strong displeasure over Canada’s support for Khalistani separatists and has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens in view of “security threats” faced by its diplomatic missions in Canada.

The diplomatic row between Canada and India over Nijjar’s killing and the Khalistan issue has escalated to a level not seen since the 1980s. It has also strained the bilateral relations between the two countries, which share common values and interests such as democracy, multiculturalism, trade, education, and counter-terrorism.

However, over the years Canada has failed miserably to take action against the violence and extremism practised by certain Sikh extremists on its soil. The most brutal reminder of Canada’s failure is the Kanishka bombing.

Canada’s Struggle for Justice in Aftermath of Babbar Khalsa Airplane Bombing

The Kanishka bombing was one of the worst acts of aviation terrorism in history, killing 329 people on board Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985. The flight was en route from Montreal to London, with Delhi and Bombay as the final destinations. The bomb had been planted by members of Babbar Khalsa. The bombing was part of a larger transnational terrorist plot that also involved another bomb that exploded at Narita airport in Tokyo, killing two baggage handlers .

The investigation and prosecution of the Kanishka bombing case lasted almost 20 years and cost the Canadian government nearly 130 million Canadian dollars. It was the most expensive trial in Canadian history. However, it failed to bring justice to the victims and their families, as only one person was convicted and the main conspirators walked free.

The only person convicted was Inderjit Singh Reyat, a dual British-Canadian national, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to manslaughter for assembling the bombs that exploded on board Air India Flight 182 and at Narita. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was released in 2016 after serving two-thirds of his term.

The other two suspects, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, were acquitted in 2005 by the B.C. Supreme Court, due to lack of evidence and credibility of the prosecution’s key witnesses . The witnesses were alleged to have heard the two defendants confess their involvement in the bombing plot, but the judge found them to be biased and unreliable. The judge also criticized the police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for their mishandling of the investigation, such as destroying or losing crucial evidence, wiretapping without authorization, and failing to cooperate with each other.

The acquittal of Malik and Bagri sparked outrage and disappointment among the victims’ families and the Canadian public, who felt that justice had not been served. The Canadian government apologized for its failure to prevent or solve the bombing, and offered compensation to the families. It also launched a public inquiry into the case, led by former Supreme Court Justice John Major. The inquiry report, released in 2010, made several recommendations to improve Canada’s counter-terrorism policies and practices.

However, none of these measures could undo the pain and loss suffered by the victims and their loved ones. The Kanishka bombing remains a dark stain on Canada’s history and reputation as a peaceful and multicultural country.

How Canada has allowed its freedoms to be abused by Sikh extremists

Canada is a country that prides itself on its diversity and tolerance, welcoming people from different backgrounds, cultures, and religions. Among its citizens are hundreds of thousands of Sikhs, who practice a monotheistic faith that originated in the Punjab region of India. However, not all Sikhs are loyal to India or its government. Some of them support the Khalistan movement, which seeks to create a separate Sikh state in Punjab, free from Indian rule. These Khalistani separatists pose a threat to India’s sovereignty and security.

Canada, on the other hand, has maintained that it respects India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also upholds the freedom of expression and peaceful protest of its citizens, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.

But behind the veil of constitutional freedoms lies a sorry tale of Canada’s failure to prevent or punish acts of terrorism and violence committed by Sikh extremists on its soil or against its allies. Canada is providing a safe haven and a platform for Sikh extremists to propagate their separatist ideology and recruit new members. Canada is also ignoring or downplaying the grievances and suffering of the Indian government and people caused by Sikh extremism.

In conclusion, Canada is undermining its own credibility and reputation as a peaceful and multicultural country by supporting a violent and divisive movement.