Over the last few days, Indian nationalist commentators and media have accused “Khalistanis” (supporters of a free Sikh homeland) of being behind a minor fire at the San Francisco (USA) India Consulate building. However, Hindu extremist Youtuber Gaurav Arya, a former Indian Army Major, has taken the issue further, by demanding the Indian State hire hitmen to attack American Sikhs. Read below for more.

Fanatical Hindu extremist Indian nationalist youtuber Gaurav Arya is receiving widespread condemnation for his latest video, in which he demands the Indian State fund American criminals to target Sikhs.

The rabid rant came after former Indian Army Major Arya, who has ongoing rape and murder accusations against him, accused Khalistanis of being behind a fire at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco (2nd July 2am). Although San Francisco Fire Department Media have said the incident is being investigated and did not name any suspects, various Indian nationalist commentators and media outlets were quick to blame Khalistanis.

The Khalistan movement, born out of Sikh ideals of sovereignty and fueled by ongoing mistreatment of the 2% Sikh populace of India, including the state perpetrated Sikh genocide, is venomously opposed by Hindu nationalists in view of their Bharat Mata (Mother India) concept.

Videos and images of the alleged attack seem to be producing more confusion, as pro-Khalistan graffiti seen in one image being shared was not visible the next morning on the building (see below). The graffiti was not mentioned in a media statement from the San Francisco Fire Department, which described the incident as “smoldering debris fire on the sidewalk and front door” which caused only “exterior damage to the front door and entryway”, possibly suggesting this was not an attempt to actually burn the building down. The video the next day showed little-to-zero signs of fire damage.

The call for India to use “the underworld” and “mafia” in American cities to target Khalistanis will be particularly worrying for Sikh communities right now, as many believe Canadian criminal gang hitmen were hired by the Indian State for the assassination of pro-Khalistan community leader Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead by two assailants in the Gurdwara where he was President in Surrey (BC, Canada) just two weeks ago. Similarly, Khalistani figure Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar was gunned down in May in Pakistan, whilst investigations into the death of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK via possible poisoning continue.

Arya’s rant follows a series of reports from Indian media making completely fabricated accusations towards Sikhs and so-called “attacks” on Indian Consulate buildings in Canada and the UK. During an India Times Now TV broadcast in March, international rights expert Professor Andrew Macleod went viral for condemning Indian media hyperbole in calling protests outside the UK India High Commission “terrorism”. Since then, Indian outlets have even ridiculously claimed “grenades” were thrown at Canadian Indian High Commission buildings.

Accusations of vandalism on Mandirs (Hindu temples) in Australia have also caused controversy, with many Sikhs highlighting how Hindi-style spelling and graffiti tags such as “BBC” do not correlate with the idea Khalistanis (who are near exclusively Sikh Punjabi in background) are behind the acts. Most recently, New South Wales Police requested help finding a car emblazoned with the word “HARYANA” which was seen leaving one of the graffiti crime scenes after an incident. Haryana is a Hindu-majority state. Since the request, there has been no update on the investigation, confirmed by NSW Police in correspondence with Sikh PA.

News of Haryanis engaging in attacks on pro-Khalistan Sikhs has been reported in Canada and Australia. One anti-Sikh figure – criminal Vishal Jood – was deported from Australia in 2021 for leading a gang attacking Sikhs. Upon his arrival back in India, Jood was greeted as a hero. Read more on these issues in Australia here.

Arya’s call for India to spend millions to use criminals to attack Khalistanis will only strengthen ongoing Sikh efforts to have Indian foreign interference investigated in countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia and now the USA.

Yet, as if to double down on the threats, Arya today released a “WANTED” poster on American Sikh and Khalistan figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, whilst fellow Hindu extremist media figure Aditya Raj Kaul shared another poster featuring the crossed-out faces of recently passed Khalistan figures, with Pannun’s image remaining uncrossed. Pannun’s crime to Indian nationalists has been running a non-binding democratic Khalistan referendum event, legally taking place already in countries like the UK, Italy, Australia and Canada, with more events to come. For this the respected lawyer has been labelled a terrorist by the Indian State and seemingly become a public national enemy.

Speaking on Arya’s call for collusion between criminal gangs and India, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“Firstly, the fact that someone with serious rape and murder allegations against them can become a major media figure says everything about the type of country India currently is.

“Beyond that, the threats Arya has made must be taken very seriously. This call for terrorism in the USA must result in action by US authorities, lest they overlook what is a threat to all Americans. There are reports that hitmen were solicited using the dark-web for the assassination of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Rather than steer away from these allegations, Arya has now championed them and shown them to be true to the desires of Hindu extremists.

“Sikh communities across the globe will continue to lose faith in their respective government’s if this Hindutva terrorism is not adequately addressed. Not only is Arya threatening the hundreds of thousands of Sikhs whom support Khalistan, he is also threatening the USA itself with becoming a lawless country where criminals can act upon the directions of foreign nations.”

For more Sikh reaction on this story or anything else, media can contact The Sikh Press Association at media@sikhpa.com.

The assassination of respected Sikh community figure and activist Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar has led to widespread calls for Canadian authorities to thoroughly investigate Indian interference in the country.

Hardeep Singh (46) was shot dead by two gunmen in his truck whilst driving out of the parking lot of Surrey Guru Nanak Gurdwara (BC), where he was President, on 18th June at approximately 8.30pm. Hardeep Singh regularly and openly talked about “Indian agents” wanting him dead due to his advocation for Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) in the face of India’s ongoing persecution of Sikhs.

The Khalistan movement, which aligns with Sikh concepts of sovereignty, gained a continuing wave of support from the 1984 Indian State perpetrated Sikh genocide. With the Khalistan independence movement seen as a destabilizing and disruptive force on the Indian State’s pursuit of further global power, the targeting of pro-Khalistan activists has long been a priority for India, evident from the issue being regularly raised during diplomatic meetings with nations that are home to a significant Sikh population.

Read more on UK-India collusion against Khalistan activists here. Read more on Australia’s issue of anti-Khalistan Hindu extremists attacking Sikhs here. Read more on a series of attacks faced by Canadian Sikhs critical of India here.

Speaking on Gurdwara stages and at Sikh protests, Hardeep Singh often mentioned that CSIS (Canada Security Intelligence Service) were warning him about threats to his life, something which was also recently affirmed by his lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who is also the head of the Sikhs For Justice group, in an interview with the Vancouver Sun.

At a community gathering yesterday at Guru Nanak Gurdwara less than 24-hours after the assassination which approximately 1000 Sikhs attended, it was further revealed by community figures that the CSIS have given out various warnings to Sikh community figures viewed as in danger. As such, many are now questioning why little has been done to protect Canada’s Sikh community from being possibly being targeted by foreign intelligence agents. At the gathering, local MP Sukh Dhaliwal said he would support efforts for a thorough investigation into the assassination.

The World Sikh Organization issued a press release which highlighted that messages from India long-claimed there was a bounty on the head of Hardeep Singh, leading some to speculate Canadian criminals could have been hired to carry out the hit for India.

Many Canadian Sikhs have been critical of the lack of comment from political figures on the incident, with some suggesting there was more reaction to graffiti on Mandirs (Hindu temples) than there was to a murder in a Gurdwara. However, a letter from NDP’s Jagmeet Singh was welcomed for highlighting how Sikhs now feel “unsafe” and how India “targeting Canadians” must be “investigated thoroughly”.

The calls for investigation into India’s role in this killing are in contrast to the reactions from India itself on the assassination. Countless Indian nationalist social media accounts are openly celebrating the killing, with many – including senior legal professionals, journalists and popular social commentators – crediting India’s intelligence services (such as RAW and the NIA) for it. Indian media outlets have labelled Hardeep Singh a “terrorist” even though he has never been convicted of any crime in India or Canada. Allegations by Indian authorities about how he planned attacks in India and was wanted for extradition have been made without any evidence or affirmation from Canadian authorities. Respected Canadian journalist Joanna Chiu spoke with a former Canadian Intelligence officer who cautioned against accepting the Indian government’s statements, saying “Sikh extremism (in Canada) has been almost non-existent for years.”

Calls for Canadian media to work to avoid amplifying misinformation stemming from India, where press freedom is ranked 161st of 180 countries, were underlined by national media figure Rena Heer.

As investigations into the death – possibly via being poisoned – of UK Khalistan figure Avtar Singh Khanda continue, direct threats towards him by fanatical Indian nationalist and ex-Indian Army officer Major Gaurav Arya were revealed by the Sikh Human Rights group. In April on his Youtube channel the Hindu extremist stated Khanda would be “eliminated” by the NIA. Similar but less high-profile threats were made towards Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The killing of another Khalistan figure – Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar – killed in Pakistan in May is also seen as a possible sign of the Indian State’s tactics to silence the movement.

Amid the celebrations from Indian nationalist social media accounts, further threats have been issued to the likes of the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of Sikhs For Justice. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a big supporter of the Sikhs For Justice Khalistan Referendum campaign, which India has designated a terror campaign, despite it only involving legal democratic vote events, which have already taken place ;egally in the UK and Italy, and are still ongoing in Canada and Australia.

In a move to seemingly absolve India of both deaths, some Indian media outlets have claimed the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a retaliatory move after the death of Avtar Singh Khanda, based on an internal feud between Khalistani factions. This completely fabricated story has been laughed off by Khalistan groups, who speak of the mutual respect between the Khalistan figures.

Similarly, accusations that the assassination may have been the result of a “more local dispute” have been criticized for aligning mere speculation alongside the long-documented history of the Indian State targeting Khalistanis, which Hardeep Singh Nijjar himself spoke of openly.

At yesterday’s community gathering, sevadaars (selfless servants) of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara made a request for anyone with relevant camera footage (either ring doorbell or dashcam) to send the videos to them so they can be analyzed for evidence. After the gathering, a roadblock demonstration was held by dozens of attending sangat (Sikh congregation) outside the Gurdwara, expressing angst at the lack of action from police. This was the second night in a row the roadblock demonstration was held.

Speaking on the situation, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“The killing of Bhai Shaheed Hardeep Singh Nijjar can only be taken as a warning to the Canadian Sikh community. For years he spoke out openly against the Indian State’s persecution of Sikhs, advocating for Khalistan, and said India wanted him dead for it. Now he’s been killed. The hundreds of thousands of Canadian Sikhs that feel similarly to him will now be wondering if they too are in danger.

“As we wait for answers from the likes of the CSIS, Sikhs the world over will also be taking heed of the lay-of-the-land when it comes to supporting Khalistan and reacting accordingly. Support for Khalistan is not a fringe movement, it is prominent at many of the biggest Gurdwaras in the world and evident at all major Sikh gatherings. If Canada wants to maintain trust with its Sikh community, they need to ensure there is freedom to support Khalistan without fear of being killed due to foreign interests.“

Read more on evidence of India’s Sikh targeted foreign interference via a report from the BC Gurdwaras Council and Ontario Gurdwaras Committee available for download here-

The Sikh Council UK are among various organisations demanding a “postmortem examination” and “urgent police investigation” into the mysterious circumstances around the death of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Khanda Azaad.

The globally respected Sikh activist and UK based community figure passed away yesterday (14.06.23) in a Birmingham hospital just a few days after being submitted due to a sudden deterioration in his health. Avtar Singh (35) was seen in good health working as a TV presenter for PBC amongst thousands at the annual #SikhGenocide remembrance rally on 4th June.

Indian media outlets and online commentators have suspiciously openly claimed Avtar Singh was poisoned. The pro-Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) activist was long the target of hate and disinformation campaigns stemming from India. However, the Sikh Federation UK have stated Indian authorities “became obsessed” with Avtar Singh in the last three months. This coincides with the #PunjabUnderSiege situation, which saw Indian authorities conduct a mass operation targeting Sikh activists, journalists and others to stem criticism of the state and growing support for the Waris Punjab De social reform movement, led by Bhai Amritpal Singh.

In April this year, the elderly mother and sister of Avtar Singh were arrested by Punjab Police, after Indian media outlets falsely reported that he was the man behind an incident at the London India High Commission which saw India’s flag briefly pulled down. Avtar Singh’s father is respected Shaheed (Sikh martyr) Bhai Kulwant Singh Khukhrana, who was killed by police in 1991 whilst defending the community from the state perpetrated Sikh Genocide, which was then at its peak. Bhai Avtar Singh moved to the UK in 2010 for his own safety, and was welcomed by panthic (Sikh path/community focused) groups.

In a statement on the issue, the Sikh Federation UK stated that such incidents mean “Indian authorities must carry the blame” for Avtar Singh’s death, due to the “immense mental and physical strain” caused to Avtar Singh for his work exposing India’s anti-Sikh human rights abuses, “especially to someone (allegedly) terminally ill with blood cancer which is being reported by the same Indian media (who were demonising him).” The community legal and political advocacy group also highlighted the presence and influence of India’s notorious NIA (National Investigation Agency) in the UK, which includes an ongoing attempt to criminalise Sikhs by circulating their pictures – which many feel is illegal – for simply attending a protest outside the High Commission.

World renowned humanitarian group Khalsa Aid also called for an “investigation and full coroner’s report” into Avtar Singh’s passing, in a letter sent directly to the West Midlands Police, whom cover the Birmingham area. Head of the aid charity, respected Sikh figure Ravi Singh, underlined a request from Avtar Singh’s family “that a postmortem be carried out urgently” whilst also highlighting that “foreign powers” have previously carried out assassinations in the UK using poison, specifying infamous incidents with “Russian death squads”.

Many Sikhs will be skeptical of whether West Midlands Police (WMP) can be trusted in such a situation due to a history of cooperation with Indian authorities to target Sikh activists. In 2018 a series of raids conducted mainly in the Midlands targeting Sikh activists saw Indian media claim they were carried out due to India’s “diplomatic pressure”. Indian media also had information on the raids (including names of those targeted) within 24-hours, which is not possible without a leak from the WMP and/or UK Counter Terror police. Those raids led to one of five Sikh men targeted facing a charge of an alleged breach of Charities Commission rules, even though the man targeted – Kuldeep aka Deepa Singh of community group Sikh Youth UK – was never involved with any charity. The case against Deepa Singh has been kept dangling over his head since 2018, with the trial for the case being constantly deferred. Read more on this story here.

Adding to skepticism around WMP’s stance on Sikh activism, there was a massive community backlash against comments by Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward in 2021 which claimed there was a threat to the public from “Sikh extremists” in the region. No evidence and not a single incident was referenced to substantiate such a claim.

Similarly empty claims about Sikh “extremism” have been said in the last few years by Boris Johnson and Priti Patel. Articles regurgitating Indian state propaganda about Sikh issues have also become more common in UK media in recent times, exemplified by a complete hit-job on Bhai Amritpal Singh published in The Times in March, written by an Indian who had not prior nor since written anything else for the outlet. The Sikh PA remain taking up a complaint about the article with IPSO.

Speaking on the issue, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“The Sikh organisations calling for investigations into Bhai Avtar Singh’s passing are not just acting on behalf of his family, but also on behalf of countless Sikhs who want to know more about how someone can go from looking fit and healthy to passing away 10-days later. The alarming claims stemming from Indian nationalists about his passing are not just shockingly callous, but they are also alarmingly brazen, celebrating Indian agents allegedly breaking UK law to kill a citizen of the country.

“The general British public should be very worried about the possible influence of India’s regime in the UK and even beyond the circumstances of Bhai Avtar Singh’s passing, this is something that needs more focus and investigation, particularly in the areas of policing, media and politics.”

Despite his condition, Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Khanda Azaad managed to relay one final message to sangat (Sikh congregation) before his passing, which you can see below.

Media inquiries about this or any related stories can be emailed to media@sikhpa.com.

A “National Sikh Consultation” based on “Calling Sikhs to Christ” has been cancelled over a week before it was scheduled to take place after action by the Sikh community.

News of the event, which provocatively was specifically aimed at converting Sikhs, broke on Tuesday (6^th June). Scheduled for 15^th June at the Ilford High Road Baptist Church (East London, UK), the event was confirmed as cancelled this afternoon.

Local Sikh community figure and Labour Party councillor of the borough of Redbridge Jas Athwal released a statement on the cancellation of the event, after being asked to act on the situation by his constituents. In the statement, Athwal explained “Events that target specific religious communities…undermines the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation…in Redbridge”.

As the poster of the event went viral, Sikh complaints were widespread, with a belief the event was designed to provoke and antagonise the community.

Across India and mainly in Punjab, Christian missionary groups have been accused of coercing vulnerable and poverty stricken Sikhs into converting with unfulfilled promises of payment and support. Last year two men were even arrested for “forced conversions” of Sikhs into Christianity.

Suspicions about why there is such focus by Christian groups (which includes mass funding) to target Sikhs specifically has raised questions about whether there is a more sinister agenda to dilute Sikh spirit which is behind some of the biggest activist movements in recent history, such as the #FarmersProtest. There is no evidence to suggest Sikhs are more likely to become Christian than any other faith. An explosion in further understanding of the Sikh faith in the last 10 years has actually led to countless Sikhs becoming closer to their faith, thanks to the work of groups that use the internet to connect with the community, like Basics Of Sikhi, who made the video below on the issue.

Insight into the groups behind the now cancelled event has revealed a deep and long-running effort to convert Sikhs into Christians.

Speaking on the issue, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“The backlash from within the global Sikh community towards this callous event is understandable. Whilst every faith group will consider their own faith superior, to present this belief so confrontationally in face of one specific group was always going to cause rifts, and those behind the event would be aware of this, making it a direct attempt to provoke the Sikh community.

“There is also a long history of Christian missionaries acting in a predatory fashion, targeting those perceived as vulnerable, promising them miracles and sometimes even money. In the UK, such Christian conversion events prey on insecurities minority communities like Sikhs can have, which can stem from being the ‘other’ whilst living in a Christian country.

“Cancelling the event was the right thing to do. However, there remains an ongoing issue of this agenda to target Sikhs, for whatever reasons, and this will be explored and resisted by the panthic (Sikh path/community focused) community.”