As India and Canada resume diplomatic relations, tensions have been reignited by the US-based pro-Khalistan outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The group has threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday, warning Indo-Canadians to avoid visiting the consulate on that day.

The outfit released a poster depicting India’s new High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, with a target mark on his face, heightening concerns over the security of Indian officials.

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Allegations against Indian consulates

In a statement, SFJ accused Indian consulates in Canada of “running a spy network and surveillance” against Khalistan supporters. Referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 remarks linking Indian agents to the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the group claimed that “two years on, Indian Consulates continue to intimidate Khalistan Referendum campaigners”.

The organisation further alleged that the threat to its activists was so significant that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had to extend “witness protection” to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who assumed leadership of the Khalistan Referendum campaign following Nijjar’s death.

Call for ‘accountability’

According to SFJ, the proposed “siege” aims to hold Indian consulates “accountable” for alleged espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil. The Ministry of External Affairs in India, as well as the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, have yet to issue an official response.

Concerns over Khalistani extremism in Canada

The development comes just weeks after an internal Canadian government report acknowledged the presence of extremist Khalistani networks operating within the country. The report highlighted that organisations such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), both designated as terrorist groups under Canada’s Criminal Code, continue to receive financial support from individuals and networks based in Canada.

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Though these groups no longer operate in large numbers, officials noted that extremist sympathies have been sustained through smaller clusters of individuals who continue to advocate for Khalistan, often under the banner of newer organisations like SFJ.

The threat from SFJ adds further strain to India-Canada ties, which have already been tested over allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing. While diplomatic channels are reopening, the shadow of Khalistani extremism continues to complicate the bilateral relationship.