Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan organisation banned in India in 2019, has threatened Hindus of Indian origin and asked them to leave Canada for supporting the country of their origin and “promoting violence” by celebrating Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.
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What happened?
In a video, SFJ’s legal counsel Gurpatwant Pannun asked Indian Hindus to leave Canada, which has gone viral since being posted.
Pannun, who has been designated as a terrorist in India, was heard saying in the 45-second clip, “Indo-Hindu leave Canada; go to India. You not only support India, but you are also supporting the suppression of speech and expression of pro-Khalistan Sikhs”, Hindustan Times reported.
Responding to the video, Canadian Minister Anita Anand, who is a Hindu, appealed for calm.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the minister wrote, “South Asians and families who come from India, regardless of religion, will share the sentiment that it was difficult to hear the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday. This is a time to let the legal process continue as it must. Let us all remain calm, unified, and empathetic.”
Why was the video released?
The video comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of Nijjar, resulting in tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats. Hours after India on Tuesday dismissed his claim as “absurd and motivated”, Trudeau insisted Canada was not looking to “provoke or escalate”.
Indian govt’s advisory
Following the video, India on Wednesday told its citizens to avoid travelling to parts of Canada.
“Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” a foreign ministry statement said, advising citizens to “avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents”.
“In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents,” as per the statement.
Who was Nijjar?
Pro-Khalistan leader and chief of Khalistan Tiger Force Nijjar, who was declared a “wanted terrorist” by the Indian government, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on the premises of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, of which he was the head, in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city on June 18.
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The police in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have registered separate FIRs against Pannun, a law graduate from Panjab University in Chandigarh, over threats and attempts to disturb peace, stability and communal harmony, IANS reported earlier.
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