Dasvand
Ottawa (May 26, 2025): The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is deeply disappointed by Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s recent public remarks following her call with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Minister Anand’s description of the conversation as “productive” and her emphasis on “deepening our economic cooperation” have caused serious concern within the Sikh community. At a time when there are clear and compelling links between the Government of India and assassinations, intimidation, and foreign interference targeting the Sikh community in Canada, the absence of any mention of accountability or justice is troubling.
The assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023, marked a turning point in Canada-India relations. On September 18, 2023, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in the House of Commons that Canada was investigating “credible allegations” linking agents of the Government of India to the assassination. Since then, Canadian law enforcement has uncovered extensive and disturbing evidence of India’s campaign of transnational repression in Canada.
In an October 14, 2024 press conference, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme revealed that the RCMP had gathered “clear and compelling evidence” of Indian government agents engaging in extortion, intimidation, coercion, and at least three murders in Canada. These criminal activities were allegedly carried out in part through collaboration with criminal gangs, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The recent murder of a Sikh businessman in Mississauga on May 14, 2025, for which the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility, is a reminder that Sikh Canadians continue to face real and ongoing threats.
Despite these findings, India has refused to cooperate with Canadian authorities and the ongoing criminal investigations. Requests to waive diplomatic immunity for implicated agents and diplomats have been rejected. India has offered no accountability for what the RCMP and the Foreign Interference Commission have both identified as a coordinated campaign of foreign interference and transnational repression. Documents from the Foreign Interference Commission confirm that threats, harassment, and surveillance of Sikh Canadians by the Government of India remain widespread, coordinated through diplomatic missions, and carried out with impunity.
WSO President Danish Singh said:
“It is deeply troubling that, despite clear evidence of targeted killings, organized crime collaboration, and ongoing foreign interference by the Government of India, Minister Anand would describe her conversation with Minister Jaishankar as ‘productive’ and focus solely on economic cooperation. This sends a dangerous message to the Sikh community — that trade takes precedence over justice, human rights, and the safety of Canadian citizens. To trade away Canadian sovereignty and the rule of law for economic interests is a disgraceful and unacceptable approach to foreign policy.”
The WSO is a non-profit national organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights of all individuals.