As New Delhi and Ottawa cautiously restore diplomatic engagement, tensions flared again after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based pro-Khalistan outfit, threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The group has urged Indo-Canadians to avoid routine visits to the consulate that day, warning of a complete takeover.

In posters circulated online, SFJ placed a target mark on the face of India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Patnaik, accusing Indian missions of running “spy networks” against Khalistan supporters. The outfit also invoked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 statement in Parliament, alleging Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “Two years on, Indian Consulates continue surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners,” SFJ claimed.

The group further alleged that threats were so severe that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided witness protection to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who assumed leadership of the Khalistan Referendum campaign following Nijjar’s death. SFJ said the planned “siege” would seek “accountability for espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil.”

Neither India’s Ministry of External Affairs nor the Indian Consulate in Vancouver immediately commented on the threats.

Canadian Security Concerns

Earlier this month, an internal Canadian government report acknowledged that extremist Khalistani groups continue to receive financial support from individuals and networks within Canada. The report highlighted organisations such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)—both banned as terrorist groups under Canada’s Criminal Code. It further noted that these groups now largely operate through small, loosely connected clusters of individuals who endorse the Khalistan cause while avoiding formal organisational ties.

The latest threat comes as India and Canada attempt to stabilise strained ties, raising renewed concerns over extremist activities on Canadian soil.

As New Delhi and Ottawa cautiously restore diplomatic engagement, tensions flared again after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based pro-Khalistan outfit, threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The group has urged Indo-Canadians to avoid routine visits to the consulate that day, warning of a complete takeover.

In posters circulated online, SFJ placed a target mark on the face of India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Patnaik, accusing Indian missions of running “spy networks” against Khalistan supporters. The outfit also invoked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 statement in Parliament, alleging Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “Two years on, Indian Consulates continue surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners,” SFJ claimed.

The group further alleged that threats were so severe that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided witness protection to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who assumed leadership of the Khalistan Referendum campaign following Nijjar’s death. SFJ said the planned “siege” would seek “accountability for espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil.”

Neither India’s Ministry of External Affairs nor the Indian Consulate in Vancouver immediately commented on the threats.

Canadian Security Concerns

Earlier this month, an internal Canadian government report acknowledged that extremist Khalistani groups continue to receive financial support from individuals and networks within Canada. The report highlighted organisations such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)—both banned as terrorist groups under Canada’s Criminal Code. It further noted that these groups now largely operate through small, loosely connected clusters of individuals who endorse the Khalistan cause while avoiding formal organisational ties.

The latest threat comes as India and Canada attempt to stabilise strained ties, raising renewed concerns over extremist activities on Canadian soil.