Canada's Inaction on Extradition Requests and the Harboring of Terrorist Forces

Almost four decades lapsed since the Kanishka flight bombing on 23 June 1985 and Canada still seems to be the nucleus of Khalistani forces that put innocent lives and International relations at stake. What is all this for- A vote bank that is swayed only by the antics of brown skinned religious minority of Sikhs in the great white democracy of Canada!

The 1985 Kanishka blast killed 268 Canadians alongside 24 Indian citizens and is the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history and was the world’s deadliest act of aviation terrorism. Canada failed then and Canada fails now to control the Khalistani forces who found their safe haven in Canada. So many innocent lives lost and yet, the members affiliated to Babbar Khalsa, the militant organization responsible for the blast have a free ride in Canada.

While levelling serious conspiracy charges against Indian diplomats in Ottawa, the Canadian officials seems to have ignored the fact that diplomats get security from Canada, and yet they have been heckled in public spaces of Canada. Their every move is under watch and yet they are accused of being involved in the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader based in Canada. It’s convenient to level serious conspiracy charges with no evidence to show for, linking diplomatic mission with India’s most notorious crime syndicate of Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned, in India. Indian flags desecrated and communities brawled in front of the embassy with no legal action from the Canadian law enforcement.  Despite failing to give adequate security to the diplomatic mission in Canada, they have the audacity to claim serious conspiracy charges.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose death seems to be the genesis of this diplomatic row is himself a terrorist who pledged allegiance to BKI and has close ties with KTF who illegally migrated to Canada. He is a terrorist who used fraudulent documents to claim asylum in Canada, several times starting in 1997. Canadian authorities should have deported Nijjar after his fake asylum claim, like hundreds of thousands of fake asylum claimants who are in Canada right now. Canada did not remedy the situation even after multiple extradition requests sent and alarms raised by India. Especially individuals that have roots in the Sikh community- Trudeau is scared, vote bank politics got the better of him.

Besides designated terrorists like Nijjar, several gangsters have been operating against India from the Canadian soil. Gangsters who espouse the Khalistani ideology and engage in violent crimes and activities have found abode in Canada as well. Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa. Individuals against whom India has a long list of cases registered and investigated with RCN issued by the Interpol. Canada was intimated, the leaders were aware and yet they indulged in this dirty murk for a few lakhs of votes.

It’s not just the individuals, the Canadian administration bends over backwards to accommodate the ridiculous requests made by the Khalistani entities. A proscribed, terrorist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) held the 6th phase voting for ‘Khalistan Referendum’ in Canada at the Municipal Plaza, Calgary on July 28, 2024. Again, Canada is the only country that had accommodated four rounds of referendums, through the years. They’ve accommodated a proscribed organization in their Government buildings, provided them with public toilets and allowed them to take over the administrative space for an illegitimate voting just to put India on the back foot, paint it as a place where Human rights are at danger.  

Referendums conducted on the government property, a matter that India has already complained about to the Global Affairs Canada, the foreign Ministry. Tending to the Khalistani terrorists, Canada failed to ensure the safety and security of the Indian diaspora that contribute so much to their economy. Ahead of the referendums the Government Plazas featured large posters of the accused of the Kanishka bombing.

Canadian leadership seems to have forgotten that the Indian diaspora extends beyond Sikhs. Places of worship defaced with anti-India graffiti, vandalism in the light of growing extremist ideology propelling hate against the peace loving Indian diaspora is protected and fed by the Canadian politicians for vote bank political mileages.

Canada’s hypocrisy shows a clear pattern to malign India. India took steps to extradite terrorist and gang members which Canada ignored and accommodated them into the Canadian milieu, now lamenting for their actions. There have been warnings from India which Canada chose to ignore. As you sow, so shall you reap.