Australian FM raises concerns with India over targeting of Sikhs in Canada

Wong meets with Indian FM Jaishanka to discuss allegations of Indian diplomats targeting Canadian Sikh separatists

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has raised concerns with Indian officials regarding allegations that India was involved in targeting Sikh activists in Canada.

Wong met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Canberra, where she addressed the accusations and reaffirmed Australia's stance on respecting the sovereignty and judicial processes of both Canada and India.

The allegations emerged following reports from Canadian authorities that Indian diplomats had been involved in a campaign to target Sikh separatists living in Canada.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Indian diplomats allegedly provided information on Sikh activists to Indian organized crime groups, leading to threats, extortion, and even violent attacks, including drive-by shootings.

These allegations also point to a broader pattern of intimidation against Sikh activists in Canada, allegedly sanctioned by high-level Indian officials, including Home Minister Amit Shah.

Canada has accused Shah of authorizing intelligence gathering and attacks against Canadian Sikhs, including the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner.

Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed these allegations, citing sources that implicated Shah in the orchestrated violence.

In response to these claims, India has denied any involvement, calling the allegations "absurd" and "baseless." Indian officials have also criticized Canada's handling of the matter, accusing Ottawa of leaking unsubstantiated information to the media to damage India’s reputation.

India also raised concerns over the surveillance of its diplomats in Canada, which it deemed "unacceptable."

Wong emphasized that Australia’s message to the Sikh community is one of safety and respect, noting that everyone has the right to feel secure in Australia, irrespective of their background.

She also underscored that Australia supports the rule of law and the independence of judicial systems in all countries.

Jaishankar, for his part, pushed back against the Canadian allegations, accusing Canada of providing "political space" to extremist voices and of misusing freedom of expression.

The two ministers also discussed other ongoing diplomatic issues, including reports of violence at a Hindu temple in Canada involving Sikh separatists.

The tension between Canada and India has been escalating since 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly stated that there were credible links between the Indian government and the murder of Nijjar.

The diplomatic fallout from these accusations resulted in the expulsion of top diplomats from both nations in September 2024.

This conflict highlights the broader geopolitical concerns surrounding Sikh separatism and India's ongoing efforts to suppress the Khalistan movement, both domestically and abroad.

While Canada hosts one of the world’s largest Sikh diasporas, India remains resolute in its stance against any form of separatism linked to the Khalistan cause.

As part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, Australia has close ties with Canada, which has made it a key player in discussions around these serious allegations.