Latest news with #MochaBezirgan
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'Go home': Local's response to pro-Khalistan parade in Canada goes viral
As the Khalistan movement continues in Canada, a video of a parade of Khalistan supporters in Vancouver made went viral on social media. In the video, posted by Canada-based investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan, a local Canadian man was heard responding to the parade by stating 'no one cares.' This video comes after Bezirgan alleged that he was 'surrounded and threatened' by a group of Khalistan supporters, who also snatched his phone, while he filmed filming their weekend rally in downtown Vancouver. ALSO READ | 'Still shaking': Canada journalist alleges assault by Khalistanis, shares ordeal In the video, Khalistan supporters are seen carrying out a rally. Along with Khalistan flags, a Pakistani flag was also spotted during the rally. In response to the rally, the local man was heard saying 'go home, no one cares.' The supporters in the video can also be seen carrying an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while chanting - 'Who killed Canadian citizens? Indian government.' In May 2025, India lodged strong protest with the Canadian High Commission after an anti-India parade was held in Toronto. During this parade, effigies of PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were paraded. During these Khalsa day celebrations, Khalistan supporters also carried out floats with pro-Khalistan propaganda, pro-Pakistan banners and imagery targeting Indian leaders. The parade was condemned by several Indo-Canadian groups as well. In 2024, a float symbolising the assassination of Indira Gandhi was also carried out by Khalistan supporters. This parade was met with condemnation from the Canadian High Commissioner Cameron McKay. Due to the Khalistan movement in Canada, ties between India and Ottawa have also hit a snag. Last year, the rise in anti-India activities due to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, prompted India and Canada to carry out a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats. Tensions between India and Canada increased after the killing of Nijjar, as Khalistani supporters alleged the involvement of the Indian government. This allegation was then highlighted at a global stage after former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of carrying out covert operations on Canadian soil, including the killing of Nijjar. The Indian government has denied any involvement and called on Canada to share the 'evidence and credible allegations' they had against New Delhi.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'They Are Going To...': Canadian Journalist Exposes Khalistanis' Plan Against PM Modi
Canadian investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan has raised alarm over the activities of Khalistani extremists in Canada, just days ahead of the G7 Summit. Bezirgan, known for tracking pro-Khalistan movements, was allegedly attacked by supporters during a Vancouver rally after warning of rising threats against Indian leaders. He reported being surrounded, physically confronted, and threatened. Bezirgan condemned the glorification of political violence, citing open calls to 'kill' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Politics'. Despite tensions, PM Modi has been invited to the G7 Summit in Alberta on June 17. Canadian PM Mark Carney defended the invite, citing India's global economic importance.#khalistaniextremism #canadaindiarelations #g7summit #mochabezirgan #vancouverprotest #indiragandhi #narendramodi #markcarney #globalsecurity #terrorismthreat #freedomofpress #canadianpolitics #internationalrelations #indiandiplomacy #extremism #g7outreach #pmmodi #canada #india #g7 #toi #toibharat Read More
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
'Khalistanis surrounded me...': Canadian journo who was assaulted, shares ordeal
Canadian Investigative Journalist Mocha Bezirgan, who was physically assaulted by multiple Khalistanis in Canada on Sunday, said that an assailant was also a stalker, who had been tailing him for over a year. Bezirgan, in a conversation with ANI, said that the said Khaliststalker doxed his movements and assaulted him in front of the police. "Well, I'm still in Vancouver and it just happened two hours ago, not too long ago, and I'm still shaking because I was surrounded by multiple Khalistanis who acted like thugs. They surrounded me, threatened violence and they got physical with me. They grabbed my phone out of my hand in front of police, by the way," he said. Show more 02:33 03:01 09:45 09:01 03:13 08:51 08:05 05:03 09:01 01:03 06:24 09:00 09:36 01:50 02:27 10:59 01:35 08:03 03:02 08:52 02:22 05:05 12:11 03:35 07:46 02:03 04:31 08:53 08:44 02:29 03:07 03:30 10:00
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Canadian politicians must distance themselves from extremists": Journalist Mocha Bezirgan alleges assault by Khalistanis at Vancouver rally
Vancouver [Canada], June 8 (ANI): An independant Canadian investigative journalist on Sunday alleged that he was physically assaulted and 'threatened' by a group of Khalistan supporters and had his phone snatched while 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, whether it be in Ontario, British Columbia, US, UK, New Zealand. They mobilise people to come from local Gurudwaras to create a little bit of crowd, but there are bigger political organizations like the World Sikh Organization which is based in Canada and they are they have a troubled history and they do the political cover in Canada. He highlighted that larger political organizations such as the World Sikh Organization, based in Canada, 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. '...Because of the tensions between Canada and India, it's a very highly political subject, but I feel like we are disregarding what's happening underground. What these people are saying, how they are exercising their free speech while they are celebrating the assassins of Indira Gandhi and saying that they are going to ambush and kill India's Prime Minister, Modi's politics at the G7. I asked them Are you going to kill his politics the same way you killed Indira Gandhi's politics? Because they refer to the assassins as their forefathers. They say we are the descendants of the killers of Indira Gandhi, and they are glorifying these acts of violence...' '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. Bezirgan called for greater accountability and awareness to prevent normalization of extremism. 'As a citizen, I expect my representatives to distance themselves from extremists and those with violent pasts.' The investigative journalist emphasized that ignoring these issues would embolden extremist groups and escalate tensions between India and Canada. 'Today's thuggery I was subjected to was not the first time,' said the journalist who posted visuals on his social media platform X about an event from March 2024 when 'Khalistan supporters, armed with daggers, swords, and spears, gathered in Edmonton, Alberta to protest against India's high commissioner to Canada.' 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. (ANI)
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
'Khalistanis surrounded me...': Canadian journo who was assaulted, shares ordeal
Canadian Investigative Journalist Mocha Bezirgan, who was physically assaulted by multiple Khalistanis in Canada on Sunday, said that an assailant was also a stalker, who had been tailing him for over a year. Bezirgan, in a conversation with ANI, said that the said Khaliststalker doxed his movements and assaulted him in front of the police. "Well, I'm still in Vancouver and it just happened two hours ago, not too long ago, and I'm still shaking because I was surrounded by multiple Khalistanis who acted like thugs. They surrounded me, threatened violence and they got physical with me. They grabbed my phone out of my hand in front of police, by the way," he said. Show more Show less
