Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar voiced his concerns on Friday, highlighting a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada. These issues have arisen due to the presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada, which has strained relations between the two countries.
Jaishankar addressed the matter during a press conference in Washington, condemning the use of freedom of speech as a platform for making threats and intimidating diplomats. He emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable.
Recent tensions between India and Canada have largely been attributed to the presence of Sikh separatists in Canada who continue to advocate for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state separate from India.
Canada’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to Jaishankar’s remarks.
Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations that Indian agents may have been involved in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, had been labeled a “terrorist” by India. New Delhi dismissed these allegations as baseless. The United States has urged India to collaborate with Canada in the investigation of the murder.
In 2018, Prime Minister Trudeau assured India that Canada would not support any efforts to revive a separatist movement in India. He repeatedly emphasized his respect for the right to free speech and assembly for protesters advocating various causes.
Canada is home to a significant Sikh community, and while some fringe groups in the country remain sympathetic to the idea of an independent Sikh state, this cause lacks substantial support in India.
The demand for Khalistan has surfaced periodically in India, most notably during a violent insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s that paralyzed the state of Punjab for over a decade. This insurgency resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, and the Khalistan movement is considered a security threat by the Indian government.
Sikh militants were held responsible for the 1985 bombing of an Air India Boeing 747 en route from Canada to India, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 329 people on board. Additionally, in 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards after she sanctioned the storming of the holiest Sikh temple, aimed at rooting out Sikh separatists.