Canadian Sikhs get police warnings as India-Canada row heats up

Canadian police have been warning Sikh activists about threats to their lives‚ as tensions between Canada and India grow. Moninder Singh spokesperson for a Sikh group in British Columbia‚ got two warnings since mid-2022 – forcing him to leave his family for months

“India has gotten away with so much over the years and under Modis regime its impunity‚“ Singh said (referring to Indian Prime Minister). “They feel like theyre just so powerful that no ones really going to hold them in check; And they probably have been correct over the past decade or so“

Canadas Sikh community – the largest outside Indias Punjab state – is facing increased risks. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it has told more than a dozen people about threats. This comes after Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar‚ a Sikh separatist leader‚ in Surrey last year

We believe India remains a threat to Canadaʼs sovereignty‚ Canadaʼs freedom of speech and Canadaʼs freedom of expression

Canada kicked out six Indian diplomats‚ linking them to Nijjars murder and other efforts to target Indian dissidents in Canada. India denied involvement and expelled six Canadian diplomats in return

Inderjeet Singh Gosal‚ who took over some of Nijjars work‚ got a midnight visit from police warning him about a threat to his life. “My family they worry; But I know what I signed up for‚“ Gosal said

The threats are changing how people interact:
- Activists cant take kids to school
- Theyre always looking around
- Wondering if somebodys coming this way or that way

These warnings have forced activists to stay away from home – away from their families for months. The Sikh community has seen a rise in violence and extortions targeting activists in recent months