“INSUFFICIENT”- Sikh reaction to Canada’s Bishnoi Gang terror designation

Indian government linked criminal network the Bishnoi Gang has been officially designated a terrorist entity by the Canadian government (29.09.25). However, Sikh groups have criticized the move for erasing the gang’s link with the Indian government.

The formal announcement by Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government came after months of talk about the possibility of categorizing the group as a terror entity, which will allow authorities to take further measures to tackle the gang’s nationwide extortion racket and more.

The decision most certainly largely pertains to targeting of Sikh communities of Canada, which has been raised by various advocacy groups and figures, particularly since the 2023 assassination of Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said “specific communities have been targeted for terror, violence and intimidation by the Bishnoi gang”.

Sikh Federation Canada reacted immediately to the news by calling the designation “insufficient”, adding; “According to government officials, the Bishnoi gang was not acting independently; it was being directed by senior officials of the Government of India”. Spokesperson Moninder Singh even said the move would have “little impact” on curbing crime, as it is the Indian government “orchestrating widespread violence”. Moninder Singh, a former close associate of slain Sikh leader Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is one of several Sikhs who has been given a “duty to warn” notice regarding a potential Indian State threat to his life.

See the full SFC statement here.

Having welcomed the ruling on the Bishnoi gang, Canada’s World Sikh Organization (a political and community advocacy body) followed up by demanding the government now “expose and sanction those Indian officials who have directed, financed, or facilitated this gang”, which Canadian authorities previously confirmed was the case. See the statement- WSO Calls Out India After Bishnoi Gang Terrorist Listing – World Sikh Organization of Canada.

Check out a series of media interviews by WSO reps on the terror designation of the Bishnoi gang, and concerns about it:

• Clips from Global, CBC and City News
• Full CBC radio interview

The Sikhs For Justice group, led by New York (USA) based lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who was targeted for assassination by India in a foiled 2023 plot, also criticized the intent of the Bishnoi gang’s categorization. Pannun called the decision “political deflection”, again raising the lack of accountability for Indian officials known to be directing the criminal actions of so-called Bishnoi gang members. Pannun also stated Canada was trying to “outsource blame to a gang…to renew relations with the Modi government, which has never been held accountable”. Pannun also spoke further on the issue in a TV news interview.

See the full statement- (1) Sikhs For Justice on X: “🔥BREAKING: Listing the Bishnoi gang alone as a “terrorist entity” is a political deflection by the Carney government to reset relations with Modi’s regime: SFJ Announces $10,000 Reward for Home Address of India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik to Stage 12-Hour Picketing in https://t.co/hGPKn559wd” / X.

The lack of addressal of Indian Government connections to the gang was also picked up on by some Canadian journalists and Sikh media too.

Sikh-focused news outlet Baaz News released an article from editor Jaskaran Singh Sandhu which also reiterated the concerns about the terror designation. Read it here.

Overseas, other Sikh diaspora groups are taking note and will be reacting accordingly. Dal Khalsa UK released a video where lead sevadaar (selfless servant) Gurcharan Singh called for the UK to follow suite and designate the Bishnoi group similarly.

Speaking on the Sikh community reactions, Sikh PA Senior Press Officer said:
“The concerns from Sikh groups regarding the Bishnoi gang are clear, and they go beyond the idea of street thugs terrorising Sikhs in Canada. As previously mentioned by Canadian authorities, there is a known link between senior Indian government figures and coordination of crime at a street level in Canada, crimes often targeting Sikhs, nearly always politically motived. As such, this designation will do nothing to stop the protests and lobbying efforts from Sikh groups working to see Indian officials made accountable for their crimes in Canada. Efforts to make Indian officials face the law will continue, seemingly now in face of a new closer relationship with India and the Mark Carney Liberal government.”

The first sentencing of a Bishnoi affiliate came within days, as 26-year-old Abhijeet Kingra was jailed for six-years for firing a gun at the home of Sikh superstar musician AP Dhillion on Vancouver Island last year in September. After being arrested in January, Kingra was sentenced yesterday (1.10.25).

More results regarding other acts of Bishnoi-India government terrorism in Canada are expected soon, such as the May murder of Parmjit Singh Dhadda and recent extortion shootings in Surrey (BC).