Latest news with #SikhFederation
Sky News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Keir Starmer facing ban from Sikh events over failure to follow through with promised inquiry
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a nine-day deadline to avoid Labour MPs facing a ban from Sikh events and gurdwaras. Hundreds of Sikh groups are threatening to "no platform" Labour MPs if the government does not announce an inquiry into alleged UK involvement in the Golden Temple massacre, and other "anti-Sikh measures" carried out by India during the Thatcher era, according to a letter seen by Sky News. It comes as the Sikh Federation continues to call for the probe - saying it was promised in the run-up to the general election last year. The calls relate to questions around what part the UK and British special forces played in the 1984 killings, in which hundreds of Sikhs died after the Indian military entered the temple complex where separatists had sought refuge. Previous limited investigations under David Cameron found a single British officer provided advice to the Indian government before the raid - but there was "no evidence of UK government involvement in the operation itself". Writing to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, the Sikh Federation said it wanted a timeline of a judge-led inquiry to be confirmed by 31 July - Friday next week. The letter was sent to Downing Street ahead of a visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UK. There have been allegations that Mr Modi's government has attempted to stymie the separatist Sikh movement, including through repression in the UK and other countries like Canada. The allegations have been denied by the Indian government. Starmer's promise Sir Keir wrote to all Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, and Sikh organisations in 2022 saying "a future Labour government will open an independent inquiry into Britain's military role in the Indian army's 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar". Angela Rayner posted on social media ahead of last year's election that "Labour stands with the Sikh community in calling for an inquiry into the historic role Britain played" in the raid on the Golden Temple. If the request for an inquiry timeline is not met by the government, the Sikh Federation told the prime minister it would "issue guidance in August on how Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations should implement the no platform policy in Gurdwaras and Sikh events that will in practice start to impact from September onwards". This guidance would apply to all Labour MPs who do not publicly support the implementation of an inquiry - including ministers. The federation's letter claims the issue was raised with Sir Keir earlier this month by a Labour MP and the prime minister "responded positively". Among the close to 500 signatories to the letter from the Sikh Federation is the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, West Midlands, where Sir Keir was pictured campaigning for the leadership of the Labour Party. There are thought to be just over half a million Sikhs in the UK - with analysis suggestion members of the religion tend to support Labour.
News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Canada-Based Sikh Leader Justifies Political Killings, Glorifies Extremism As India Flags Trend
Moninder Singh Boyal's statements align closely with the ideology of designated terrorist organisations like Khalistan Tiger Force & Babbar Khalsa International, intel sources said In a development raising serious concerns about the growing influence of Khalistani extremism within Canada's Sikh diaspora, Moninder Singh Boyal, a prominent Sikh leader and chief spokesperson for the Sikh Federation (Canada) and the BC Sikh Council, has been caught on record openly endorsing political assassinations and violent resistance. Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Boyal's recent speech at a religious gathering in Surrey, BC, included explicit justification for violence and glorification of high-profile killings. Referring to the assassinations of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, and General AS Vaidya, Boyal declared: 'We killed them when we wanted to." He went on to argue that personal differences should not come in the way of what he described as a 'violent struggle," urging his audience to embrace armed resistance. Boyal's statements align closely with the rhetoric and ideology of designated terrorist organisations such as the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), intelligence sources said. His speech, which also included the glorification of beheadings and justification of violence in the name of religious duty, is being viewed as part of a broader attempt to reframe militancy as a sacred obligation. Boyal is a known associate of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO) and has emerged as a central figure in spreading anti-India narratives among Canada's Sikh diaspora. Intelligence agencies believe his speeches are deliberately crafted to exploit historical grievances such as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Operation Blue Star, using them as rallying points to incite fresh radicalisation. According to intelligence assessments, several Gurdwaras across cities like Surrey, Brampton, and Abbotsford have increasingly become hubs of extremist activity. Events hosted at these religious institutions often feature tributes to designated terrorists, open displays of Khalistani flags, and inflammatory speeches that incite violence against India. Sources also indicate that management committees of some of these Gurdwaras are dominated by hardline Khalistani sympathisers. These individuals routinely deny platforms to moderate voices and use religious gatherings to fundraise and recruit youth, all under the guise of community empowerment. Intelligence intercepts and diaspora monitoring reports suggest that the extremist discourse in Canada is not only going unchecked but is in some cases tacitly legitimised under the banner of human rights advocacy. As a result, India's repeated concerns about separatist extremism festering abroad continue to be brushed aside in Western political and civil society circles. With Boyal's latest statements adding fuel to an already volatile situation, Indian agencies are once again pressing their counterparts in Canada and other Western nations to treat these developments with the urgency and seriousness they warrant. First Published: July 03, 2025, 13:41 IST
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Khalistan Sikhs protest on second anniversary of Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death
Dozens of pro-Khalistan Sikh activists protested outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of the killing of B.C. gurdwara leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Khalistan movement refers to a Sikh separatist movement that seeks to create an independent Sikh state in parts of northern India. Nijjar, a key organizer for an unofficial overseas referendum on Khalistan, was gunned down in the parking lot of Surrey, B.C.'s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, where he was president, on June 18, 2023. Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the Sikh Federation (Canada), said Nijjar's death has galvanized the community over the last two years. "It was a wake-up call that that violence has made its way to Canada, unfortunately." Singh said at the Vancouver Indian nationals — Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh — have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Nijjar's killing. Months after Nijjar's death in 2023, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being linked to Nijjar's killing, leading to strained relations between India and Canada. On Wednesday, Singh highlighted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has said India's government continues to be a foreign interference concern, according to its annual report released Tuesday. "Links between the Government of India and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America," said the CSIS report. Singh said the issue of foreign interference extends beyond the Sikh community. "That's actually violating Canada's sovereignty, undermining its electoral process, its democratic institutions," he said. "So for us this is really very much a Canadian issue, and not just a Sikh issue." The anniversary rally comes a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit in Alberta and met with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney. After the meeting, the two countries agreed to reinstate their high commissioners and are eyeing renewed visa services to each other's citizens and businesses, in a sign that Canada-India relations are defrosting. Singh said it was "frustrating" to see Modi at the meeting, and added that rebuilding the bilateral relationship without set outcomes is "very, very premature." He said without clear objectives, the Canadian government won't be able to share how it has mitigated the threat of India's foreign influence. At the G7, Carney did not directly answer a journalist's question about his discussion with Modi about Nijjar's murder. "We have had a discussion, the prime minister and I, about the importance of having the law enforcement-to-law enforcement dialogue, not just dialogue, but co-operation," Carney said during a G7 news conference Tuesday. "Obviously there is a judicial process underway, and I need to be careful about further commentary." Modi's government has denied ordering killings in Canada.
CBC
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Pro-Khalistan Sikhs protest on second anniversary of Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death
Social Sharing Dozens of pro-Khalistan Sikh activists protested outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of the killing of B.C. gurdwara leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Khalistan movement refers to a Sikh separatist movement that seeks to create an independent Sikh state in parts of northern India. Nijjar, a key organizer for an unofficial overseas referendum on Khalistan, was gunned down in the parking lot of Surrey, B.C.'s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, where he was president, on June 18, 2023. Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the Sikh Federation (Canada), said Nijjar's death has galvanized the community over the last two years. "It was a wake-up call that that violence has made its way to Canada, unfortunately." Singh said at the Vancouver protest. WATCH | Protest held on anniversary of Nijjar's death: Questions remain 2 years after the death of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar 31 minutes ago Duration 2:06 Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a gurdwara leader who advocated for an independent Sikh state, known as Khalistan, in parts of present-day India. He was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in 2023, in a high-profile case that strained relations between Canada and India. Four Indian nationals have since been charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death. As CBC's Jessica Cheung explains, some in the Surrey community are still looking for answers regarding who ordered Nijjar's death and whether there are more targets. Four Indian nationals — Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh — have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Nijjar's killing. Months after Nijjar's death in 2023, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being linked to Nijjar's killing, leading to strained relations between India and Canada. On Wednesday, Singh highlighted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has said India's government continues to be a foreign interference concern, according to its annual report released Tuesday. "Links between the Government of India and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America," said the CSIS report. Singh said the issue of foreign interference extends beyond the Sikh community. "That's actually violating Canada's sovereignty, undermining its electoral process, its democratic institutions," he said. "So for us this is really very much a Canadian issue, and not just a Sikh issue." Day after G7 meeting The anniversary rally comes a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit in Alberta and met with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney. After the meeting, the two countries agreed to reinstate their high commissioners and are eyeing renewed visa services to each other's citizens and businesses, in a sign that Canada-India relations are defrosting. Singh said it was "frustrating" to see Modi at the meeting, and added that rebuilding the bilateral relationship without set outcomes is "very, very premature." He said without clear objectives, the Canadian government won't be able to share how it has mitigated the threat of India's foreign influence. At the G7, Carney did not directly answer a journalist's question about his discussion with Modi about Nijjar's murder. "We have had a discussion, the prime minister and I, about the importance of having the law enforcement-to-law enforcement dialogue, not just dialogue, but co-operation," Carney said during a G7 news conference Tuesday.
CBC
06-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Modi says Carney invited him to G7, 1st visit to Canada since RCMP linked India to killings, extortion
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited him to the G7 summit later this month in Alberta, making his first visit to Canada since the RCMP accused his government of acts of murder, extortion and coercion. In a social media post on Friday, Modi wrote that Carney called him and extended an invitation to the gathering in Kananaskis in just over a week. "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests," wrote Modi. "Look forward to our meeting at the summit." Leaders from the G7 countries — Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — along with the president of the European Commission are heading to the western province for high-level meetings. Other leaders are often invited for side meetings. Modi, head of one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, has been invited to every G7 leaders' summit since 2019. Carney has been under pressure to break with that tradition. Earlier this week, the Toronto-based Sikh Federation said Canada should withhold any invitation "until India substantially co-operates with criminal investigations in Canada." Last fall, the head of the RCMP laid out allegations accusing agents of the Indian government of playing a role in "widespread violence" in Canada, including homicides, and warned that it poses "a serious threat to our public safety." RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said his officers, working with other law enforcement agencies, have obtained evidence linking Indian government agents to homicides and other violent acts in Canada, including coercion and extortion. The previous year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi has denied the allegations. During the recent federal election campaign, Carney called the Canadian-Indian relationship "incredibly important."
