In a brazen display of entitlement, Khalistan sympathisers in Canada have turned their attention to a new target—the Canadians themselves. In a two-minute video from a ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession, the group labels locals as “invaders,” creating new tension in Canada that Indian officials have termed the “new normal.”
Khalistanis in Canada Turn Against Canadians
Khalistani sympathisers have once again made headlines for their inflammatory rhetoric, this time asking Canadians to leave their own country. In a viral two-minute video of a ‘Nagar Kirtan’ in Canada, procession members are heard declaring, “This is Canada, our own country. You [Canadians] go back to England and Europe.”
The procession continued by labelling Canadians as “invaders,” an act that Indian intelligence officials say is a reflection of the growing power and influence of Khalistani elements in Canada. The increasing visibility of such statements is a symptom of what Indian officials are now referring to as the “new normal”—a Canada slowly succumbing to Khalistani influence.
Escalating Tensions Amid Declining India-Canada Relations
The latest incident occurs against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between India and Canada. Relations took a sharp nosedive after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani sympathiser labelled a terrorist by India, in June 2023. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later claimed that Indian agents and the Indian government were directly involved in Nijjar’s killing, allegations that India called “preposterous.”
Following these accusations, both countries expelled each other’s top diplomats, plunging bilateral relations into an ongoing diplomatic crisis. Trudeau has since faced severe criticism for harbouring Khalistani sympathisers—individuals who not only plot against India but have also started making inflammatory threats towards the local Canadian population.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi even went on record to condemn the attacks on Hindu devotees in Canadian temples, calling the incidents deliberate attacks orchestrated by Khalistani sympathisers. These attacks, combined with Trudeau’s handling of the Najjar controversy, have contributed to an escalating diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
Political Factors Behind the Khalistani Influence
Many Indian intelligence sources suggest that Trudeau’s perceived leniency toward Khalistani groups may be politically motivated. With a drastic slump in popularity and a government that appears fragile, Trudeau’s reliance on support from the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Sikh-Canadian Jagmeet Singh, is seen as a factor. Singh’s support is critical for Trudeau, and backing from the Sikh-Canadian community has played a significant role in this ongoing diplomatic tension.
According to Indian intelligence officials, Trudeau is aware that his allegations against India lack concrete evidence. The use of terms like “intelligence inputs” in his speeches underscores the fact that Trudeau is leaning on incomplete information, potentially influenced by Khalistani sympathisers within the Canadian Parliament. Intelligence sources described Trudeau’s behaviour as “childish,” accusing him of playing into the hands of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and the Khalistani movement.
Viral Video Sparks Outrage
A recent social media post by user Daniel Bordman, on X (formerly Twitter), further escalated the controversy. Bordman shared a two-minute video of a ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession in Surrey, British Columbia, where Khalistani flags were visible, and voices could be heard proclaiming, “We are the owners of Canada” and “White people should go back to Europe and Israel.” The post gained significant traction, with many questioning how such sentiments were being tolerated in Canada.
The video—now viral—depicted individuals declaring “white people are invaders” and demanding that they “go back.” The inflammatory remarks add to an already tense atmosphere as incidents involving attacks on Hindus in Canada continue to rise. The rise in such events has led Indian intelligence officials to conclude that these incidents are indicative of a deeper, ongoing threat posed by Khalistani groups in Canada.
Diplomatic Deadlock
Following Nijjar’s assassination, Canada suspended diplomatic talks with India, with both countries increasingly hostile toward one another. On India’s side, officials condemned certain Canadian representatives for their alleged sympathies with Khalistani causes, which has only worsened the situation.
Adding another layer to the ongoing tensions, Sandeep Singh Sidhu, a Canadian border police officer employed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), was recently cleared of terrorism charges by Canadian authorities. The Indian government had previously accused Sidhu of promoting Khalistani terrorist activities and being involved in the murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab, in October 2020. The acquittal, however, has been seen by Indian officials as yet another indication of Canada’s leniency towards Khalistani elements.
India-Canada Relations: A Crossroads Amid Khalistani Influence
The ongoing tensions between India and Canada reveal the complex challenges surrounding the Khalistani issue, which has become a major obstacle not only for bilateral relations but also for Canada’s internal stability. The recent viral video from the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession is a clear indication of the divisive rhetoric spreading within Canada, which now affects its local population. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing declining popularity and struggling to maintain his government, appears to have allowed these extremist voices to grow stronger, creating an environment of heightened discord.
As the Khalistani sympathisers become increasingly emboldened, Canada stands at a pivotal moment—either to address this growing influence decisively or risk worsening diplomatic and social fragmentation. Between India and Canada grow, it becomes increasingly evident that the Khalistani issue poses a significant challenge not only to bilateral relations but also to the domestic harmony of Canada itself. The viral video of the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession serves as a stark reminder of the divisive rhetoric that is starting to impact everyday Canadians. With Trudeau struggling to hold his government together and Khalistani sympathisers growing bolder, Canada finds itself at a crossroads, where leniency toward extremist voices could further strain its diplomatic ties and deepen internal discord.