logo
Canadian journalist alleges assault by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver

Canadian journalist alleges assault by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver

Hindustan Times6 hours ago

An independent Canadian investigative journalist on Sunday alleged that he was physically assaulted and 'threatened' by a group of Khalistan supporters who reportedly also snatched his phone while he was reporting their rally in Vancouver.
The journalist, Mocha Bezirgan, who posted his ordeal on social media platform X said that the Khalistani extremist movement in Canada has raised serious security concerns and strained ties between India and Canada.
'It just happened two hours ago and I'm still shaking,' Bezirgan told ANI in a phone interview. 'They acted like thugs - crowding in on me, grabbing my phone, trying to stop me recording.'
The incident occurred while Bezirgan was in Vancouver city to cover a rally organised by Khalistan supporters. The Canadian journalist described the attack as 'thuggery' and said he was targeted for his editorial independence and past coverage of Khalistan-related protests.
Earlier, he took to X to post, 'I've been surrounded by a group of Khalistanis who grabbed my phone out of my hand and threatened me. Naturally I'm a bit shaken, but not deterred.'
Bezirgan further said that the pro-Khalistan movement has led to acts of vandalism, intimidation, and violent rhetoric, despite not being widespread within the Sikh community.
On being asked about Khalistani extremism, the Canadian investigative journalist said, 'This is a movement headed by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). They are the ones organising it, and most of the time, it's the same people attending these protests, be it in Ontario, British Columbia, US, UK, New Zealand. They mobilise people to come from local gurdwaras to create a little bit of crowd, but there are bigger political organisations like the World Sikh Organisation which is based in Canada that provide political cover for the movement. 'Their executives include current and former MPs and ministers, who have spread influence across Canadian institutions,' said the Canadian journalist.
Bezirgan also expressed concern over the reluctance of Canadian politicians to condemn these extremist groups. 'Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, the NDP, and some Liberal MPs recently attended a Nagar Kirtan in Surrey, BC, which had significant Khalistani influence. They shared the stage with Santokh Singh Kelha, a convicted Sikh Canadian who conspired to bomb an airplane,' Bezirgan said.
Bezirgan condemned the glorification of violence by these groups, who the journalist said speak openly about plans to ambush and kill India's current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
'It is disturbing that Canadian politicians continue to associate with such extremists, despite their violent history and inflammatory rhetoric,' Bezirgan said. He warned that lack of media coverage and public awareness in Canada allows such events and political participation to go unchecked.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed on June 6 that he will represent India at the upcoming G-7 summit in Canada next week, after he was invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a telephone call.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

11 years of PM-led NDA 'golden period', says BJP; Congress sees broken promises
11 years of PM-led NDA 'golden period', says BJP; Congress sees broken promises

India Today

time22 minutes ago

  • India Today

11 years of PM-led NDA 'golden period', says BJP; Congress sees broken promises

As the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government completed 11 years in power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the government's focus throughout has been on improving the lives of the poor and delivering development for all. The milestone also marked one year of PM Modi's third term as Prime a statement issued on the occasion, PM Modi said that schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadhi, and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi have given "new wings to the hopes" of Indians. "Every effort in these 11 years has been made with devotion and a service spirit to ease the lives of citizens," he India's emergence as a global economic and strategic force, the Prime Minister said the country is now the fastest-growing major economy and a significant voice on global issues like climate change and digital innovation. "We are proud of our collective success but at the same time, we look ahead with hope, confidence and a renewed resolve to build a Viksit Bharat," he said, reiterating the NDA's guiding principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'. The Centre also released a detailed e-book outlining its achievements over the past 11 years across various Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the sentiment, calling the 11 years under PM Modi a "golden period" marked by "resolve, endeavour and dedication to public service." "The Modi government has proved that when the leadership is clear, the resolve is firm and the intent is driven by public service, new records of service, security and governance are created," the Home Minister said in a post on president JP Nadda also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 11 years in office, saying the work done by the government under his leadership should be written in "golden letters"."The Congress-led UPA regime was marked by corruption, scams and appeasement politics. Work done by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the past 11 years was extraordinary, and should be written in golden letters," Nadda 11 YEARS DEALT DEEP BLOW: CONGRESSThe Congress launched a scathing attack on the PM Modi-led government, accusing it of inflicting serious damage on India's democracy, economy, and social harmony over the past 11 president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, alleged that the BJP regime has "smeared the ink of dictatorship" on every page of the Constitution, claiming that the essence of democratic governance has been systematically eroded under the NDA rule."The BJP-RSS has weakened every constitutional institution and attacked their autonomy. Whether it is going against public opinion and toppling governments through the back door or forcibly imposing one-party dictatorship, during this period, the rights of the states have been ignored and the federal structure has weakened," Kharge Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi-led NDA government as it marked 11 years in power, saying it had "failed to fulfil promises" and deserved "zero marks" for performance."PM Modi is surviving only because of continuous campaigning. What happened to demonetisation? Who benefited from it? He promised Achhe Din, where are they? What happened to the promise of providing two crore jobs every year? He also assured the resolution of farmers' issues, what happened to that? Why did farmers protest for a year if their issues were being addressed?" Siddaramaiah Watch

Cyprus May Host Modi For Refuelling Stop En Route To G7 Summit In Canada; Bilateral Talks Possible
Cyprus May Host Modi For Refuelling Stop En Route To G7 Summit In Canada; Bilateral Talks Possible

News18

time44 minutes ago

  • News18

Cyprus May Host Modi For Refuelling Stop En Route To G7 Summit In Canada; Bilateral Talks Possible

Last Updated: While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada As preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada for the G7 Summit on June 16–17, officials are in the final stages of confirming international refueling stopovers, which may also double up as venues for bilateral engagements. Among the options being actively considered is Cyprus, sources told CNN-News18. While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada, given the recent uptick in diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. However, officials on both sides remain tight-lipped about the ongoing developments. Strategic Timing And Diplomatic Optics A Cyprus halt, if finalised, would not merely serve logistical needs — it may carry significant diplomatic symbolism, especially against the backdrop of PM Modi's earlier meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the UNGA last year. During that interaction, PM Modi reaffirmed India's support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Foreign policy watchers see this as a potential opportunity to reinforce ties, particularly as Cyprus has consistently supported India, including in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which it raised during an EU meeting. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held a conversation with his Cypriot counterpart following the incident. The last high-level exchange between the two countries occurred in 2017, when the then President of Cyprus visited India. Cyprus has previously sought India's assistance in resolving its four-decade-long territorial dispute, making any high-level engagement diplomatically notable. PM Modi's visit to Canada, his first in nearly a decade, comes at a crucial juncture. Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been frosty in recent months, particularly under the previous Canadian administration, with public spats, withdrawn envoys, and unresolved tensions over Khalistani extremism. The invitation from newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has therefore surprised many, including Khalistani groups who have resumed protests, and the Congress party, which had questioned the likelihood of Modi's attendance. With Modi returning to Canadian soil after last visiting in 2015, the trip signals a possible reset in Indo-Canadian relations under a new political regime in Ottawa—one that seems eager to re-engage with India.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store