Representational picture. AP
Khalistan ideologues are a tiny minority inside Canada’s Sikh group with management over lower than 4 per cent of the Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) within the nation.
Amid the continued diplomatic strife between India and Canada, a supply from an Indian intelligence company has revealed that eight out of roughly 250 gurdwaras in Canada are managed by Khalistani teams, News18 reported.
These teams have a major presence in Surrey, British Columbia, Brampton, Abbotsford, and choose areas in Toronto.
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The supply means that round 10,000 Sikhs in Canada help Khalistani ideology, with 5,000 being hardcore supporters and the remaining sympathising as a consequence of peer stress.
In Canada, there are two kinds of gurdwaras – non-public and non-profit. Non-public gurdwaras are privately owned, whereas non-profit gurdwaras, that are bigger, maintain elections to find out their administrative management.
An extended-standing dispute over using chairs and mats throughout langar (group meal) in gurdwaras has continued for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. Moderates advocate for chairs, whereas extremists desire mats. The end result of elections sometimes determines the association within the langar corridor.
The India-Canada relationship took successful throughout Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s go to to India, significantly in the course of the G20 Summit. Throughout this go to, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s issues concerning the anti-India actions of extremist components in Canada. In response, Trudeau accused India of involvement within the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar earlier within the 12 months. The Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs dismissed Trudeau’s claims as “motivated and absurd.”
Canadian Gurdwaras beneath Khalistani affect
1. Gurunanak Sikh Temple Gurudwara in Surrey: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a two-time president of the gurdwara, had Khalistani ties. The gurdwara initially had average management however later noticed Khalistani supporters profitable elections.
2. British Columbia Sikh Gurdwaras Council: This council oversees eight gurdwaras, with 4 believed to be beneath separatist teams’ management and 4 beneath average management. Gurdwaras like Gurudwara Dashmesh Darbar, Gurunanak Sikh Temple, and Banda Bahadur Singh Temple have Khalistani supporters of their committees.
3. Dixie Gurudwara in Ontario Province: Managed by Khalistani teams.
Khalistani outfits
World Sikh Organisation (WSO): A Sikh advocacy organisation that promotes Sikh pursuits in Canada and worldwide. It has members in varied sectors, together with politics and the judiciary. The WSO is taken into account to help the Khalistani narrative in Canada.
Sikh Youth Federation, Sikhs For Justice, Khalistani Zindabad Power, Khalistani Liberation Power, Khalistani Commando Power, Khalistani Tiger Power, Babbar Khalsa Worldwide: These are varied Khalistani organizations with operatives unfold throughout Western nations, together with Canada.
The Khalsa Deewan Society, a average pro-India Sikh society, controls gurdwaras which were visited by distinguished Indian leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. Based in 1906, it’s the oldest Sikh society in Larger Vancouver.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election, he sought reconciliation with Sikh communities in Canada, resulting in a number of organizations ceasing their anti-India actions. Nevertheless, teams like Sikhs For Justice, with backing from a number of intelligence companies, proceed to impede India’s outreach efforts.
India additionally suspects that Canadian intelligence has disrupted its makes an attempt to reconcile with sure anti-India components.