Diplomatic Tensions Flare Over Pro-Khalistan Rally in Canada

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner to lodge a strong protest after separatist pro-Khalistan slogans and banners were displayed at an event in Toronto addressed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The incident has sparked diplomatic tensions and reignited concerns over the growing Khalistan separatist movement among the Sikh diaspora in Canada.The controversial event was held on Sunday to mark “Khalsa Day”, a celebration of the Sikh faith. Videos circulating online showed attendees raising the Khalistani flag and holding banners with slogans like “Modi Wanted” – an apparent reference to Indian PM Narendra Modi being depicted as a fugitive.

Prime Minister Trudeau spoke at the gathering, drawing criticism for failing to condemn the separatist sentiments on display.This is not the first time pro-Khalistan activism in Canada has strained relations with India. In 2017, Trudeau was forced to apologize after a Canadian Sikh convicted of attempting to assassinate an Indian minister was invited to an official event during the PM’s visit to India.

More recently, Indian officials raised concerns about a banned separatist group, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), holding a non-binding referendum in Canada seeking to establish Khalistan as an independent Sikh homeland carved out of parts of India.

History of Khalistan Movement :

The Khalistan movement has its roots dating back to the 1980s following Operation Blue Star, the Indian military’s action to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.Though the movement was quashed within India’s borders, it remained alive abroad, particularly among the substantial Sikh diaspora in countries like Canada, the UK, and parts of Europe and the US. Canadian Sikh leaders are split, with some demanding their own homeland and others denouncing the separatist ambitions as fringe extremism. But there are rising concerns that pro-Khalistan activism is moving into the mainstream diaspora politics. Groups like the SFJ have capitalized on a tide of anti-India sentiment following the farmer protests and claims of human rights abuses in Indian Punjab.

For the Canadian government, walking this tightrope between its Indian ally and the Sikh community has proven challenging. Trudeau was accused of emboldening extremists early in his tenure and has recently struck a tougher stance, calling the pursuit of Khalistan a “федемеру” and “ineffective.”

However, critics allege his government has turned a blind eye as pro-Khalistan activism spreads.India has long raised alarm over the spread of extremist ideologies among the diaspora, which it fears could provide funding and ideological fuel for a revived pro-Khalistan insurgency. For their part, Canadian security officials have downplayed the possibility of violence spilling over into Canada itself.

As one of the world’s largest diaspora populations, the affluent and engaged Punjabi community in Canada holds significant influence – both politically and financially. How Ottawa chooses to address concerns over pro-Khalistan activism risks either inflaming tensions with one of its Commonwealth partners or a restive subset of its own population. With neither side appearing willing to back down, the latest incident suggests managing the Khalistan issue will remain a complicated diplomatic and security challenge for both nations for the foreseeable future.