Canada 'soft peddling' Khalistani extremists: Sources

Pro-Khalistan elements have been "operating freely" from Canadian soil for nearly 50 years w in garb of tions like 'freedom of expression' and 'political advocacy' but country maintains "complete silence" on intimidation, violence, drug trafficking by se extremists, sources said on Tuesday.

bombing of Air India plane Kanishka was perpetuated by Khalistani extremists way back in 1985 and it was one of biggest terror attacks in world in pre-9/11 era.

However, due to apparent "lackadaisical" approach of Canadian ncies, key accused Talwinder Singh Parmar and his bunch of Khalistani extremists got away scot-free, sources said.

Ironically, Parmar is w a hero of pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada with banned group Sikhs For Justice naming its campaign centre after him.

Over years, Khalistani extremists were furr "emboldened" and started "operating with impunity" from Canada.

In last decade, links of Canada-based Khalistani extremists have emerged in more than half of terror cases reported from Punjab, according to sources.

multiple targeted killings of Sikhs, Hindus and Christians in Punjab after 2016 were handiwork of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing has led to a row between India and Canada.

But Canadian ncies allegedly never launched any inquiry or investigation against Nijjar and his friends Bhagat Singh Brar, Parry Dulai, Arsh Dalla, Lakbir Landa and many ors, sources said, adding that for Canada, y remain "political activists" despite increasing body count in Punjab.

Punjab today suffers heavily because of extortion rackets run from Canada and gangsters based in rth American country bring drugs from Pakistan through drones and sell m across Punjab, y said.

A part of this money goes back to Khalistani extremists in Canada.

Even in Canada, many pro-Khalistan extremists are part of drug trade. Inter-gang rivalries among gangsters from Punjab are common in Canada w.

sources said a pro-India Sikh leader, Ripudaman Singh Malik, was killed in 2022 in Surrey in Canada, a murder that many say was orchestrated by Nijjar.

But Canadian ncies allegedly did t show any urgency in finding culprits and unravelling real conspiracy, y said.

Two local criminals who were t of Indian origin were only charged in case.

"Soft pedalling" of Khalistanis ensured that moderate and pro-India Sikhs were thrown out of many big gurdwaras in Canada using muscle and money power of pro-Khalistan extremists, y added.

Emboldened by ir "rising clout" in Canada, pro-Khalistan extremists have started openly intimidating mirity Hindus in Indian diaspora in Canada and defacing ir temples.

recent open threats by Khalistanis to physical security of Indian missions and diplomats in Canada are a very serious development and challenge obligation of Canada under Vienna Convention.

It appears that in Canada, re are different scales for measuring human rights, sources said.

Voices from Canada are very strong on even trivial issues in Punjab while re has been a "complete silence" on intimidation, violence, drug trafficking and extortion by pro-Khalistan extremists sitting re and affecting both countries, y said.

row between New Delhi and Ottawa erupted after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged "potential" involvement of Indian nts in Nijjar's killing in June.

India strongly rejected 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 case.

In a reflection of hardening of its position, India on September 20 advised all its nationals living in Canada and those contemplating travelling re to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes as well as "criminal violence" in that country.

next day, India anunced that it was temporarily suspending issuance of visas to Canadian citizens in view of "security threats" faced by its high commission and consulates in Canada.