Sikh organizations demand action from MPs, Liberal government after mixed messages on Indian interference

Following the recent “duty to warn” notice by the RCMP issued to British Columbia-based Sikh activist Moninder Singh warning of an imminent threat to his life, which the Mounties suggested is linked to the Indian government; and concerning mixed messages from the federal Liberal government about India’s ongoing activities in transnational repression on Canadian soil, a coalition of Sikh organizations is demanding action.

Sikh groups from across Canada, including the Ontario Gurdwara Committee (OGC), the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada and the Sikh Federation of Canada, have written a joint letter Wednesday to Canadian MPs from the ruling Liberals and the Official Opposition Conservatives. They are demanding transparency regarding Indian transnational repression, completion of the October 2024 Parliamentary study on foreign interference and criminal activity by agents of the Government of India, and an independent public inquiry into the 2023 assassination of B.C. Sikh rights leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

While the coalition said the Sikh Liberal caucus’s response supported the core principles and demands raised by the organizations and was a "step in the right direction,” a significant response still has not been provided.

According to the group, Sukh Dhaliwal, a Liberal MP from Surrey, British Columbia who has been outspoken in his advocacy for the Sikh community and his criticism of his own government over the past week, was the only member of the Liberal Sikh caucus who submitted a detailed response and strongly supported all three key demands by the coalition.

Sikh advocates argue that, amid renewed diplomatic talks between the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney and India’s BJP government to mend the broken relationship after allegations of India’s criminal activities here, no guarantees are in place to protect Sikh Canadians. Sikh organizations are demanding actions to ensure India will stop its campaign of “transnational repression in Canada.”

To put pressure on MPs, the coalition’s broad membership of influential organizations, including umbrella groups representing dozens of Gurdwaras across the country, has introduced criteria to determine whether or not politicians will be invited to events or be given critical exposure during election campaigns, when candidates, including Sikhs, flock to community outlets seeking visibility, only to ignore the community once they are elected. 

“In light of the responses that we have received, each of the undersigned organizations will be reviewing their protocols regarding invitations to speak based on whether or not the individual MPs have provided a clear and public commitment to the three measures. Each institution will immediately implement measures based on the responses received.”

About 20 ridings across the country, including in Brampton and Surrey, but also in Edmonton, Winnipeg and other parts of the 905 in Ontario, have large blocs of Sikh voters that can swing an entire election. The community is swamped with visits from party leaders and local candidates every federal election, and the Sikh coalition is putting them on notice—no longer will politicians get the community’s vote, without showing they will fight for the priorities of Sikh Canadians.

“We look forward to continued engagement with Members of Parliament to ensure that these principles are upheld in practice, not only in rhetoric,” the coalition’s members emphasized in their statement Wednesday. 

Brampton’s six MPs, unlike some in B.C., have been criticized for toeing the Liberal government line, refraining from advocating for justice-based demands on India, as Prime Minister Carney pursues his “middle power” policy of engaging and re-engaging with nations for economic partnerships, in the face of America’s isolationist trade moves.

Evidence of shocking violence targeting Canadians has piled up against the BJP government led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a 2024 RCMP announcement, two indictments by the United States Justice Department, which include detailed wiretap transcripts of an Indian agent ordering assassinations in Canada and the U.S., and newspaper investigations by the Washington Post and Globe and Mail linking Indian government officials and senior politicians to brazen assassination plots in Canada and America.

The federal government has disclosed that senior Canadian officials have shared key evidence with senior Indian officials.

Dinesh Patnaik, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, once again publicly denied India’s involvement in any criminal activity in Canada just last weekend, stating, "It never happened,” despite all the evidence presented to his government.

Carney, who remained silent on the issue of Indian criminal activity in Canada while he was there last week, and did not take a single question from the Canadian reporters who accompanied him on the trip, finally broke from his communication strategy while in Australia on the second leg of the trade mission. 

“I would not use those words, first point,” Carney told reporters yesterday, echoing comments made a day earlier on the last day of the India leg by Foreign Minister Anita Anand, referring to the claims made by the unnamed government official last week the day before both left for India. “Secondly, our approach… is one of vigilance and engagement. We have made progress, but regardless of the progress that has been made… it is our responsibility to have both aspects.” He said Canada “will not tolerate foreign interference, transnational repression by anyone,” words he failed to offer prior to meeting with Indian officials over the weekend including Prime Minister Modi, when tentative trade agreements were trumpeted.

 Sikh leaders have criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney for his apparent unwillingness to clearly address the issue of Indian government interference in Canada.

(Mark Carney/X)

In a post on X, Brampton Liberal MP Ruby Sahota, Canada’s Secretary of State combating crime, wrote that “any suggestions these threats (from India) have been resolved do not reflect the current security reality facing Canada.”

It’s unclear what suggestions she was referring to. An unnamed senior government official told reporters right before Carney left for India, that the country is no longer continuing its criminal activity in Canada. The claim sparked widespread backlash among the Sikh community and by experts who held up evidence of recent criminal interference, including a duty to warn notice by the RCMP that was given to Moninder Singh, the B.C. Sikh activist who received the warning less than two weeks ago of an imminent threat to him and his family.

Unlike Sahota’s delayed and vague response, which came after criticism by Sikh leaders, two of her Liberal colleagues in B.C. immediately issued damning statements, refuting the claims of the senior Liberal government official.

She said that while Canada is engaged in a constructive dialogue with India, "serious security concerns remain,” and "attempting to minimize these threats risks eroding public confidence and overlooks the ongoing efforts to protect communities targeted by intimidation and violence.”

Last week, right before Carney left for his current three-nation trade mission, which started in India, the unnamed senior government official told reporters, without providing evidence or any reporting by Canadian law enforcement and intelligence authorities, that India is no longer conducting criminal activity in Canada.

Liberal MP Parm Bains, who represents the B.C. riding of Richmond East—Steveston, responded on X Friday: “I strongly reject a government official’s attempt to downplay India’s involvement in transnational repression and violent criminal activity in Canada. 

“Such a claim undermines public safety, dismisses the tireless work of our security agencies, contradicts findings from the NSIA, RCMP, and CSIS, and raises serious concerns about the official’s continued suitability for their role.”

Responding to the requests for action by the coalition of Sikh organizations, Conservative MPs made vague partisan remarks, which were criticized for failing to offer any actual commitment.  

“Canada should not be a playground for foreign interference,” the Conservative MPs said in a response.

“Our streets should not be places for foreign governments to advance their interests using violence and coercion. The Prime Minister is avoiding the media and refuses to answer questions about the threats to the safety and security of Canadians. This is deeply troubling.”

Sources told The Pointer last week that it would be unusual for a senior government official to claim India is not continuing its alleged criminal activity, without the knowledge of the Prime Minister and senior Liberal government political staff inside the Prime Minister’s Office, especially right before a critical diplomatic trip.

Sikh leaders have expressed concern that the safety of community members has been pushed aside by Carney as he seeks to sign a range of trade agreements with India. 

“After eight months of what the government has described as ‘high level’ dialogue between Canadian and Indian officials, there has been no measurable progress,” the coalition’s members said in a statement Wednesday. “There has been no public accountability and no public assurances that India will desist from engaging in interference or transnational repression in Canada.”

After the lack of a proper response from both parties, the coalition of Sikh organizations is looking forward to meeting with the leaders' offices of the three main federal parties by April 3, prior to initiating the next phase of the group’s upcoming national campaign.

Discussions with the Liberal Sikh Caucus will focus on a concrete path to end violence against the Sikh community orchestrated by the Indian government, while Conservative and NDP MPs will be invited to demonstrate a clear commitment to protect Canadians.

The coalition is calling on “Canadian MPs to make tangible commitments upholding transparency and defending our ability to exercise fundamental freedoms.”

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