Saturday, March 29, 2025
Khalistan Supporters Protest Outside Indian Consulate in Canada
September 19 – Khalistan supporters staged a nearly 12-hour protest outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The demonstration was organized to mark two years since former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Details of the Protest
The protest began at 8 a.m. and continued until 8 p.m. Organizers described the demonstration as peaceful, calling it a symbolic “gherao” (encirclement) of the consulate. The protesters alleged that the Indian government continues to intimidate pro-Khalistan Sikhs in Canada. In anticipation of possible tensions, Canadian police had tightened security outside the consulate to prevent any untoward incident.
Nijjar’s Killing and Strained Ties
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan supporter and designated terrorist by India, was shot dead on June 18, 2023, in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. On September 18, 2023, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating “credible allegations” of Indian agents’ involvement in the killing.
The statement triggered a major diplomatic crisis. Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, to which India responded by expelling a Canadian official. Both sides suspended trade services and halted negotiations on a free trade agreement. Relations eased slightly after dialogue during the G7 summit, but tensions remained.
So far, four individuals – Amandeep Singh, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh – have been charged with murder and conspiracy in Nijjar’s killing. However, protesters on Thursday claimed that the “real culprits” remain at large.
Background
The Nijjar case remains a flashpoint in India-Canada relations, with Ottawa insisting on pursuing the investigation and New Delhi rejecting the allegations as baseless. Thursday’s protest highlighted the continuing anger among Khalistan supporters in Canada, underlining how the issue continues to overshadow bilateral ties.
