Khalistani Group Sikhs for Justice Threatens to ‘Siege’ Indian Consulate in Vancouver

Khalistani Group Sikhs for Justice Threatens to ‘Siege’ Indian Consulate in Vancouver

There is “no Khalistani movement as such,” with “only a handful of Sikhs” sporadically displaying Khalistan banners in countries like Canada or the USA.

By Rakesh Raman
New Delhi | September 17, 2025

Vancouver, Canada – September 17, 2025 – The US-based Khalistani separatist organization, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has issued a threat to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada, this Thursday, September 18. This development follows the recent resumption of diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa, which had been strained since 2023. The group has urged Indians and Indo-Canadians to “stay away” from the consulate premises.

Allegations of ‘Spy Network’ and Demand for Accountability

SFJ claims that the proposed “siege” is a demand for “accountability” for what it describes as “espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil”. The group asserts that “Indian Consulates continue to run a spy network and surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners”. As evidence of the alleged grave threat, SFJ stated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had to place Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who took over the Khalistan Referendum campaign after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death, under “witness protection”.

Resurfacing Tensions Amidst Diplomatic Thaw

The threat reignites tensions that have plagued India-Canada relations since September 2023, when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly stated in the Canadian Parliament that “credible allegations” linked Indian agents to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. India vehemently rejected Trudeau’s claims as “absurd” and “motivated,” accusing Canada of allowing extremist and anti-India activities to proliferate unchecked.

More recently, India and Canada had appointed new high commissioners, an understanding reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during Modi’s visit to Canada for the G7 summit in June. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly commented on the Nijjar killing after meeting with PM Modi, stating he was “careful about commentary”.

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Despite this, Sikh organizations in Canada had urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to withdraw Modi’s invitation to the G7 summit, citing India’s alleged transnational repression. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had stated in October 2024 that the Government of India had not cooperated with the investigation into Nijjar’s killing, with Modi himself allegedly involved. Canada consistently maintained that sitting diplomats in the Modi government were complicit in Nijjar’s murder, leading to the expulsion of six Indian diplomats and a reciprocal expulsion of Canadian officials by India.

Broader Accusations of Transnational Repression

The allegations extend beyond Canada. The U.S. has accused Modi’s secret agents of an attempted assassination of another Sikh activist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on American soil. In response to these alleged crimes, Congressman Adam Schiff introduced the bipartisan Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024.

A U.S. court had even summoned various officials in the Modi government in connection with the alleged plot against Pannun, who also supports the Khalistan movement. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concerns over India’s treatment of religious minorities, citing the Nijjar and Pannun cases as examples of “Indian authorities… increasingly engaged in acts of transnational repression targeting religious minorities abroad”.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of Canadian politicians, with a recent report indicating that an Indian agent surveilled former leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh with the intent to attack him. This has fueled fears among Canadian politicians and potentially influenced Prime Minister Carney’s decision to invite Modi to the G7 summit. A Canadian government report earlier this month also acknowledged the presence of Khalistani groups in the country.

The ‘Myth’ of the Khalistan Movement

Despite these significant diplomatic and security concerns, sources indicate that the “Khalistani movement” itself may be largely exaggerated in its domestic presence. According to one perspective, there is “no Khalistani movement as such,” with “only a handful of Sikhs” sporadically displaying Khalistan banners in countries like Canada or the USA.

The sources note that there is “no organized Khalistan campaign” and “no protest in Punjab for achieving Khalistan,” nor is any Sikh or Punjabi in India campaigning for it. However, the Modi government is accused of actively suppressing these sporadic expressions of support both in India and abroad.