India’s Sikh crackdown reaches Canada? Modi government faces Ottawa’s “zero tolerance”

A senior Canadian Public Safety Department official said the federal government has informed Indian authorities of its “zero tolerance” policy toward transnational repression and foreign interference involving Indian diplomats, Caliber.Az reports, citing Canada’s National Post.

In a letter to the human rights organisation Sikhs for Justice (SJF), the official stressed that the Canadian government has “made it clear to senior Indian officials that there is zero tolerance for transnational repression or other illegal activities by foreign diplomats in this country.”

The letter was signed by Canada’s Deputy Minister of Public Safety Richard Bilodeau and was sent in response to a June appeal by Sikhs for Justice, which warned of ongoing attempts by Indian officials to threaten Canadian Sikhs and activists advocating a referendum on the creation of an independent Khalistan.

Bilodeau emphasised in the letter that Canada supports “constructive engagement” with India and will continue to uphold the rule of law, judicial independence and the “principle of non-interference.”

“The Government continues to strengthen its response to these threats by implementing targeted mitigation measures, as well as appropriate policy and legislative tools,” he added.

Bilodeau’s letter to SJF followed an appeal by five UN special rapporteurs, who expressed concern over what they described as a “broader pattern of transnational repression by Indian authorities.”

They noted that Canadian pro-Khalistan activist Moninder Singh continues to live in fear. The rapporteurs urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to take more effective measures to protect Singh and other activists involved in the Khalistan movement.

The Carney government has largely refrained from publicly criticising India, but has said it raises public security concerns with New Delhi privately and has received assurances from Indian authorities that such actions will stop.

India has never acknowledged any wrongdoing and has categorically denied involvement in foreign interference or transnational repression targeting Canadians or taking place on Canadian territory.