Amid global concern of a rise in anti-Sikh hate, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Kaur Dhillon condemned attacks on “law-abiding Sikhs…simply because of who they are” this week.
The statement by Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, the Sikh Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, came after widespread bigoted reactions to a reckless driving incident by a Sikh driver in Ontario (California) on 21st October. Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Yuba City resident, was in control of a truck when it sped through slow traffic, destroying vehicles and leaving three dead.
Jashanpreet Singh entered the US illegally in 2022 and was intoxicated when the collisions happened, prompting a furious backlash within an already prominent anti-immigrant political climate in the country. Jashanpreet’s incident is similar to the recent Florida Turnpike accident in August, involving another illegal immigrant Sikh trucker, Harjinder Singh, which also provoked an anti-Sikh backlash, now reignited by Jashanpreet Singh’s collision. Note- Harjinder Singh was not said to have been intoxicated like Jashanpreet Singh was. Jashanpreet Singh is being charged with driving under the influence of drugs, causing bodily injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Reports of racist incidents targeting Sikhs have increased since the Florida incident, an issue exacerbated online by Hindutva (Hindu extremist) groups maligning the wider Sikh community and Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement as somehow to blame for Jashanpreet’s acident.
Immediately after the crash became public knowledge, humanitarian charity and advocacy group United Sikhs released statements calling for a fair trial for Jashanpreet, having also stated the trial of Harjinder Singh was being impacted by anti-immigrant sentiment, points raised in TV interviews by United Sikhs reps recently. See more here.
Jashanpreet Singh remains on trial, having pleaded not-guilty on 24th October at San Bernardino County Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga (California). During the hearing, Jashanpreet Singh appeared stripped of his dastaar (Sikh turban), an issue which was raised by many, underlining concerns of the lack of human rights afforded to Jashanpreet and Sikhs facing incarceration in the USA.
For her statement, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon was met with both support but also completely bigoted criticism. Some prominent bigoted accounts have been shown to be followed by Vice-President JD Vance. Harmeet was also target of a vicious backlash by Christian supremacists and white supremacists when she performed an ardaas (Sikh prayer) at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July, receiving accusations of pushing “demon worship” and more. Dhillon also performed an ardas at the RNC in 2016. Within her work as a longtime Republican Party figure and respected lawyer, Dhillon has still regularly supported Sikh issues through her career, including raising concerns around transnational repression and supporting identity rights. Harmeet Kaur Dhillon was appointed as Assistant Attorney General by President Donald Trump, who has publicly praised her work on several occasions.
The fallout of the Jashanpreet Singh tragedy also includes a deeper look at how immigrants in the USA obtain trucking licenses, an issue which is already under intense anti-migrant scrutiny, much to the concern of much of the Sikh community. Read more on that here. Meanwhile, Sikh groups remain rallying the wider community in response to intensified hate and policy changes impacting lawful workers, such as the estimated 100,000+ working in the trucking industry.
As the trials against Harjinder Singh and Jashanpreet Singh continue, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon (who is one of three Assistant Attorney Generals) made her stance clear, saying her team would “aggressively prosecute or pursue justice against those engaged in such discrimination” targeting Sikhs.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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).
A UK Indian High Commission court case against a Sikh activist has been stayed by the presiding judge, two-years since the initial incident, which is linked to another Sikh activist’s alleged murder by India.
On 16th September 2025, proceedings brought against Gurcharan Singh at Southwark Crown Court concerning alleged attempted criminal damage to the Indian flag during a protest at its London High Commission building in March 2023 were stayed (meaning temporarily halted).
The ruling brings a long-running saga into its final chapter. The initial incident began with Indian media accusations of “violent terrorism” by British Sikhs, then triggered a major diplomatic fallout, and is linked to the poisoning of a Sikh activist who was the main person accused of desecrating the flag, despite not even being in attendance.
Gurcharan Singh (a noted UK activist part of the Dal Khalsa UK group) and two other Sikh activists (who will remain anonymous) currently face no charges regarding the accusations from an Indian High Commission rep. One activist was arrested on the day of the protest (19th March 2023) and the other was arrested later that year in August, whilst Gurcharan Singh was arrested even later that year, in October, at another protest outside the same Indian High Commission.
The initial incident occurred around midday on 19th March 2023, when Sikh protests broke out across the world after Indian authorities locked down parts of Punjab. Invasion by thousands of paramilitary groups and a communications shutdown were part of mass state action against critics of India in Punjab, which was mainly focused on targeting Bhai Amritpal Singh.
The situation became known as #PanjabUnderSiege. Bhai Amritpal Singh became subject of one of the largest manhunts in history during the period, only to turn himself in later. He remains a Sikh political prisoner since, but is now also an elected MP, having contested and won – voted in by 400,000 people – in last year’s India general election. During the 19th March 2023 protest at India’s London High Commission (IHC), amongst dozens of protesters some criminal damage to the building allegedly occurred. However, it was video footage of a Sikh man – unidentifiable from footage – pulling down India’s tiranga (tri-colour; national flag) from the front of the building which sparked global Indian outrage. Footage of the incident was broadcasted worldwide by Indian media and Hindu nationalist social media users (including official government and army reps), all of which sensationalised the incident as “terrorism” and a “violent attack”.
In response to the Indian reaction, a viral take from Professor Andrew Macleod seemed to express wider sentiment, when the Australian geopolitical expert accused Indians of overreacting and being “petulant”, whilst speaking on the incident on a news panel show.
In what is in hindsight a completely sinister move, Indian media quickly blamed noted Sikh activist Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda for the incident, despite Khanda not being in attendance. Khanda was a respected figure of the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement, demonised by Indian media and authorities even before the March 2023 incident. His false framing as the culprit of the overblown incident is cited as pre-emptive justification for his death, which was celebrated as an Indian State murder on social media before the news had even been confirmed in Sikh communities.
As well as the fallout targeting Sikh activists, the UK also faced diplomatic pressure after the incident. Firstly, the UK consulate head of Delhi was summoned to answer questions, whilst simultaneously security (in the form of basic gating) was removed from the UK Delhi High Commission building, with Indian media commentators openly saying it was retaliation for a perceived failure of the UK to protect India’s High Commission in London.
Weeks later, using the false framing against Khanda as justification, the mother of the Birmingham (Midlands) based activist was imprisoned in India for a period, in what was seen as an attempt to hurt and discourage Khanda’s activism.
Then, just a month later, Khanda succumbed to a very short and serious illness, passing away after a public claim that he would be “eliminated”, made by Hindu extremist India national security commentator Major Gaurav Arya.
At the time, Punjab and the Sikh diaspora communities seemed to be becoming more understanding of the Khalistan movement post the 2020 Farmers Protest stand against Narendra Modi’s Indian government, based on social sentiment and grassroots support for Khalistan orgs. In response, India’s demonisation of noted Sikh activists intensified, including toward Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed soon after Khanda died, in Surrey (BC, Canada).
Even after the fallout around the assassinations of Sikh activists (which included the killing of Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan in May 2023), efforts to target the alleged perpetrators of the London High Commission “attack” continued, with India sending intelligence officers into the UK for further investigation in September 2023.
After reports of India’s NIA (National Investigation Agency) presence in the UK, Gurcharan Singh found himself under arrest weeks later for desecration of India’s flag in March 2023, whilst protesting at the same site. Despite Gurcharan Singh’s arrest and the fact he was officially named as the accused by Indian diplomats, there was no attempt to absolve Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, who was named in headlines across India regarding the incident.
Once the case against the protesters was underway, Sikh PA is aware that a diplomat even waived diplomatic immunity in order to participate in the case by giving witness statements.
Although the initial police charge related to damage to the India Consulate flag, later allegations from the Indian diplomat included: – Gurcharan Singh broke bones in his hand, resulting him requiring surgery – 12 windows were smashed and the VIP entrance door of the building, causing approximately £20,000 worth of criminal damage to the consulate building
Evidence for the alleged damage to the building was also presented through a receipt for a £13,000 payment from the consulate to a maintenance company.
Tellingly, no Indian media have yet covered the news of the case being dismissed, despite the mass coverage which occurred when the initial accusations began, after the 2023 March #PunjabUnderSiege protest.
Speaking on the current status of the case, Gurcharan Singh said “At this stage, there is no case to answer. I am pleased with this outcome. I thank everyone who has supported me through this.
“The Indian government has been unable to provide evidence as to the monetary value of the flag or the cost of any alleged damage. In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for sustaining a criminal charge.
“It is clear that the case was an attempt to curtail the fundamental right of Sikhs to peacefully protest against the actions of the Indian state while in the United Kingdom. The right to protest is a cornerstone of democratic society and attempts to criminalise legitimate dissent undermine this principle.”
Gurcharan Singh remains involved in Sikh activism, and specifically standing against Hindutva tyranny and in support of the Khalistan movement.
NOTE- The Sikh Press Association is aware of further impact regarding the March 2023 protest and Indian accusations towards attendees. However, in respect of sangat (Sikh congregation) wishes, we will not be specifying other impacted parties.
And in an additional twist, Indian media reported the news before any Canadian authorities released public details on it, posing questions as to how India’s notoriously nationalist media would get such information on someone viewed as an enemy of India.
Inderjit Singh Gosal was charged with a dozen firearms-related offences after being arrested by Ontario Provincial Police in Whitby on 19th September. He appeared in court in Oshawa on Monday, but even before then Indian media were pushing out the story. The 36-year-old was arrested with fellow activists Arman Singh, 23, of Toronto, and Jagdeep Singh, 41, a resident of New York. News of the arrest was first broken by Indian nationalist news outlets like NDTV.
Only a week before Gosal’s arrest the respected activist was offered witness protection services based on a threat to his life, related to his role as the Canadian coordinator of the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland), a role previously held by Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed by criminals funded by the Indian State in 2023 in Surrey (BC). The arrest also comes shortly after Canada’s National Security Advisor Nathalie G Drouin met with her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, a notorious figure exposed by Washington Post via intelligence leaks as leading “harassment” of Sikh diaspora activists.
Gosal was also involved in an incident which sparked a day of anti-Sikh unrest across Canada, when he was targeted by a Hindu extremist mob whilst protesting outside a Brampton Mandir last November, resulting in his arrest for his role in a skirmish. Indian media currently link Gosal’s arrest to the meeting between Drouin and Doval, raising suspicion in Sikh circles about what has led to the arrest of Gosal.
A statement by Sikhs For Justice on the arrest highlighted India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threat about eliminating enemies of India “in their foreign homes”, whilst also raising the incident as a test for Canada PM Mark Carney, regarding the rights of Sikhs advocating for Khalistan in Canada.
Speaking on the arrest, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:
“There must be serious questions as to how news of this arrest reached Indian media and random Indian nationalist accounts first. The process of the arrest means it makes no sense for intricate detail of the arrest to reach Indian media first. Canadian authorities need to be clear about how this could happen, or else it leaves many questions about Inderjit Singh Gosal’s situation.
“Furthermore, global Sikh attention will be on this case, given the shocking amount of murders of Sikhs in Canada within the last two-years linked to the Indian State, via criminal networks like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. There is a growing belief that Sikhs are being forced to be sitting-ducks for Indian violence whilst Canadian authorities do nothing and also allow nothing for those targeted to protect themselves.”
LATEST UPDATE- The 20th Sept demonstration outside the Bakersfield ICE detention facility was cancelled due to Harjit Kaur being removed from the site. Her current whereabouts are unknown, as ICE refuse to divulge more info.
Sikh groups are rallying in support for a 73-year-old Sikh grandmother who has been in the USA for 33-years, currently suffering amid imprisonment by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in California (USA).
Harjit Kaur, a resident of Bakersfield in California since 1992, was “dragged away by guards” on 8th September during a routine ICE check-in, which she had been doing for 13-years as required. She has been left in a local detainment facility since where she says she “would rather die” than be, due to various human rights breaches.
According to reports from her attorney Deepak Ahluwalia and also her daughter-in-law Manjit Kaur, Harjit Kaur has faced:
being refused water
staying in a cell without a chair or bed, with a broken toilet and no toilet paper
denial of medicine and required medical treatment
not being given a vegetarian meal for a week
handcuffed and feet shackled for hours-at-a-time
The grandmother is considered an illegal alien because she did not have the required travel documents when arriving in the USA, coming as a widow with her two young sons as India’s Sikh genocide was still in a peak period. India would have only been four-years into existence as an independent nation when she was born, making it a period when not all individuals were able to obtain modern legal documentation such as a birth certificate. Harjit Kaur was allowed to stay in the USA based on a lengthy series of legal challenges she raised regarding her status. In 2012 her final appeal to stay was rejected, and Harjit Kaur accepted she would leave to return to Punjab. However, to return Harjit Kaur needed an emergency certificate – a one-way travel document for Indians of invalid status to enable them to return. This would require verifying Harjit Kaur’s origin and identity in Punjab through photos, cross-checking with relatives or acquaintances or finding old records. A decade since applying for this, between US immigration and India’s US embassy, Harjit Kaur has not received her emergency travel certificate. As such, she is still allowed to legally remain in the USA. The fact that she had 13-years of regular immigration check-ins makes her detainment with ICE seems unnecessary to many. Harjit Kaur has had a knee replacement and also deals with a variety of other medical issues, which are not being treated under ICE, according to her attorney.
Harjit Kaur worked several different jobs as legally entitled to do during her time in the USA, paying taxes and having an unblemished record whilst raising a family in Bakersfield. A rep of the local Gurdwara where Harjit Kaur attended daily said “she always helped people”. Hundreds of supporters turned up to a 12th September protest regarding her detainment. Harjit Kaur spent much of her day-to-day caring for her grandchildren, before her callous incarceration. Her family also say her Harjit Kaur no longer has any support (home or a family) in India.
Protests have been held across the US against a perceived heavy-handed approach by ICE, amid wider divisions around anti-immigrant sentiment under the President Trump regime. Much of the support for the current ICE campaign was based on an idea the “worst-of-the-worst” would be targeted according to Trump, and not “peaceful grandmothers”, as Harjit Kaur’s local Senator Jesse Arreguin put it, whilst calling her imprisonment “shameful”.
Harjit Kaur’s local congressman John Garamendi said ICE’s treatment of Harjit Kaur showed “misplaced priorities of Trump’s immigration enforcement”, whilst calling her a “respected member of the community”. An official ICE response to the situation said they were simply “enforcing the law” and that Harjit Kaur would not be allowed to “waste any more US tax dollars”. Contrary to this, some estimate the cost of imprisoning Harjit Kaur is costing the taxpayer more than it would be to simply appropriately process her case, without needing to imprison her. Harjit Kaur’s family are also saying they will immediately facilitate her travel to India upon release when the necessary certification is received.
Another rally is set for TODAY (20th September) as efforts for her release continue.
A fatal accident involving a Sikh truck driver residing in the USA illegally has caused a global news storm over the last few weeks, prompting Sikh orgs to react to the “bigotry”.
Harjinder Singh performed an illegal u-turn maneuver which led to three deaths as a vehicle collided with his 18-wheeler truck in Turnpike (St Lucie County, Florida) on 12th August. Beyond the tragic outcome on the day, a wider fallout has occurred, which Singh’s public defendant said was “politically charged”.
After the accident, over the next week, the story slowly became one of the biggest in the USA and subsequently the world, with major political figures and social commentators speaking on it as an example of all that is wrong with America’s immigration policies, thus making visibly Sikh man Harjinder Singh (28-years-old) the face of immigration evils in the country.
Speaking on the fallout, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said, “There was a perfect storm of events which led to this story becoming as big as it did.
“Firstly, we are in midst of a massive focus on immigration in general in the USA, and the tone has become overtly harsher amid the violent ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) campaign. Secondly, despite growth in awareness of the Sikh faith, turbaned-bearded men remain a defining image of anti-immigration rhetoric. Finally, the presence of Sikhs in North America’s trucking industry was already under attack. It is the essence of the success of many Sikh families and the influence which comes from that threatens both far-right racists and Hindu nationalist extremists.
“Also, the Trump admin and its supporters would have been relieved to have a story to redirect attention away from things like the Epstein list and ongoing questions about Israel’s influence in the USA. As such, many major pro-Trump figures amplified the story.”
Likely due to a carryover of skills from Punjab which are valued and common, with driving large vehicles a key part of farm life in the agricultural state, Sikhs are estimated to hold over 150,000 trucking positions in the USA. Read more on this via Sikh Coalition.
Harjinder Singh’s Tik-Tok account revealed support for Khalistan, leaving Hindu nationalists rabid in pushing a completely baseless allegation there was a sinister political motive behind the truck accident. However, the ridiculous claims remain circulating only within Hindutva circles, whilst being ignored by US media. Further insight into Harjinder Singh revealed he received his trucking licence in California through loopholes allowing someone with his status to take up the occupation, further fracturing political differences between California’s allegedly super-liberal approach to migration, compared to other US states.
Underlining the impact of the incident, on 21st August the Trump admin via Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the government would immediately stop the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
On the same day a petition was started by a non-Sikh which sparked even more backlash by calling for “fair sentencing” for Harjinder Singh. The petition was not started by any Sikh org nor official spokesperson, family member or even friend of Harjinder Singh, but started by a non-Sikh, Manisha Kaushal. Although openly supported by countless individual Sikhs, suspicions about the petition arose as many duplicate names and messages indicated bots were used to push up the numbers of signatures. Simultaneously, Indian nationalist profiles used the petition to portray the Sikh community as unsympathetic and violent. Even state senator Ron De Santis spoke on the petition, condemning it.
Seemingly in response to the petition for leniency, at least two others were started calling for maximum punishment for Harjinder Singh, including calls for him to be deported to the infamous El Salvador super-maximum security prison known for its shocking factory-farm-like living conditions, where allegedly some ICE deportees are being sent.
Due to the backlash, some Sikhs outright condemned the leniency petition. USA community figure Karanveer Singh Pannun created a viral response to the petition which was well received by thousands, in which he outlined it as “ragebait”. No Sikh organizations pushed the petition in any way, despite claims to the otherwise by Hindutva accounts.
As the furore continued, the first official court hearing for Harjinder Singh on 23rd August came around and caused alarm for Sikh groups wondering why he had been stripped of his religious right to keep his head covered.
Singh was flown into Florida from California – where he resided and legally flew back to after the accident – in a very public display, as his case continued to dominate US media. Harjinder Singh was denied bond, charged with vehicular homicide and also with manslaughter. His brother Harneet – his passenger in the truck at the time – was also later arrested for his immigration status, and remains incarcerated pending deportation.
The relentless racist rhetoric and the disinformation around his case prompted Sikh orgs to respond, with some offering legal support.
However, it was the response of Sikhs For Justice which garnered most attention on 26th August, when the group behind the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) Referendum sent a delegation to meet with Harjinder Singh and had spokesperson Gurpatwant Singh Pannun speak outside his jail. Pannun’s speech was aired across the USA, as the SFJ General Counsel and New York based lawyer spoke to show “solidarity” with the victims, saying Harjinder Singh was “grieving” for them, whilst also emphasizing his religious rights through the prosecution process. Pannun also announced SFJ would donate $100,000 to the victims’ families. Pannun’s media addressal had a positive impact on perceptions of how the incident is viewed by Sikhs, as seen through some social media posts.
Following Pannun’s involvement, Harjinder Singh was finally allowed headwear, as part of his rights as a Sikh.
Two days later, SFJ held a public ardas (Sikh prayer) for the victims outside the jail, whilst also advocating for a fair trial for Harjinder Singh. In an incredible turn of events, the vigil was also sight of another truck crash, which then saw SFJ sevadaars (selfless servants) stage an impromptu rescue of the stuck driver.
The victims were recently revealed to be three Haitian migrants, all related, aged 30, 37 and 54. Some have suggested there may now be less focus on Harjinder Singh then there would have been had the victims been white. However, US media commentators continue to state the case is political and will be processed differently as a result.
The trucking company behind Harjinder Singh’s employment have since been cited for violations, with official charges pending. A Republican backed senate bill is also in motion to make wider changes regarding trucking proficiency, specifically based on the Harjinder Singh accident. Furthermore, in Florida truck inspection stations are now being used as ICE checkpoints, showing the ongoing impact of Harjinder Singh’s case.
In a change of his legal circumstances, on 3rd September United Sikhs announced they would be representing Harjinder Singh through the charity’s legal division.
In summary of the situation, Jasveer Singh said, “Comments from the likes of Ron De Santis and the State Prosecutor of Florida show intention to make an example of Harjinder Singh. Whilst not intentional, his actions were reckless and his immigration status is being viewed as accountable for that recklessness.
“Of course, Harjinder Singh must be accountable for his mistakes, but there is no doubt there is extra negative attention being given to his case too, and unfortunately that will only have an impact on wider Sikh communities, especially in the USA.”
The conclusion of a six-year Charity Commission investigation on a UK Gurdwara sent shockwaves through global Sikh circles this week, as an “objection” to “Khalistan boards” was dropped, prompting some to ask “How was this even up for debate?”.
Based on a 2019 “mischievous reporting” by “Indian journalist”Loveena Tandon, an employee of India’s notoriously nationalist media, the Charity Commission were said to have been misled into spending half-a-decade investigating a so-called issue of Slough Singh Sabha Gurdwara (Berkshire) having the word “Khalistan” on display boards, which they have had up for 40-years.
In a statement on the outcome Slough Singh Sabha committee said it “welcomes the decision” by the Commission “to withdraw its objection”, with it now “recognising the long-standing spiritual significance” of the displays in support of Khalistan. The group also highlighted that the investigation caused “considerable anxiety in the congregation and wider Sikh community” due to the constraints and needless debate it put on ideas of Sikh expression. The Slough Singh Sabha statement also revealed the Charity Commission took six-years to realise “‘Khalistan’ has both an important religious meaning…also a physical political meaning”…and thus does “not wish to interfere in theological issues”.
The Charity Commission move against Sikh expression likely stemmed from “pressure from the Indian government” according to Sikh Federation UK. Following the conclusion, the community advocacy body also said Gurdwaras can now “prominently display Khalistan plaques” joining “a number of Gurdwaras in Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, East Ham, Gravesend, Leicester, Smethwick, West Bromwich and Watford already display Khalistan plaques where the Charity Commission had raised no objections.” SFUK are also chasing up transparency on correspondence the Charity Commission had regarding the investigation, to expose who was influencing the regulatory body to chase up what is now officially a non-issue.
In response to the news, former MP Claudia Webbe called the investigation “concerning”. Respected educational outlet Akaal Publishers also questioned why Charity Commission would be “on a political mission to demonise self-determination, a UN recognised human right”.
Singh Sabha Slough also publicly thanked Sikh community groups and individuals – including MPs – involved in ensuring a just outcome (see below).
Speaking on the story, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said, “Many community figures are hoping this will be a breakthrough moment for the Charity Commission regarding perceptions of Khalistan support. We are aware various Sikh organisations have been pressured about support or connection with the Khalistan movement, in a way which suggests the Commission is simply acting upon Indian government narratives. Some investigations are ongoing. The idea of foreign interference impacting British Sikhs this way is clearly concerning to the community, and thus there is expectation for this outcome to create a domino effect, which includes a push for transparency around who they corresponded with too. Especially in light of geopolitical revelations around India’s anti-Sikh transnational repression campaign, there will be a global Sikh focus on the UK Charity Commission from hereon.”
See the SFUK statement in full here. See the Singh Sabha Slough statement here.
World Sikh Organization this week called for Sikh constituents to contact their local MPs about “Indian diplomats…running clandestine operations on Canadian soil”, as efforts to tackle India’s “Bishnoi” crime network continue.
The national call by the advocacy body is calling Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to rekindle relations with India “Too Soon, Too Dangerous”, as part of a campaign working against the now undeniable anti-Sikh Indian criminal network carrying out crimes such as extortion and murder in Canada.
The call comes amid ongoing terror from the Indian nationalist criminal network known as the “Lawrence Bishnoi Gang”. However, the gang – which refers to infamous nationalist criminal Lawrence Bishnoi and his criminal syndicate – is largely viewed as a proxy for actions facilitated by Indian State diplomats, giving license to Indian nationalist criminals to target certain individuals. As historically seen with the case of Vishal Jood in Australia, such criminals are rewarded for their actions.
Only last week Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and Brampton (Ontario) Mayor Patrick Brown as major Canadian political figures to have recently officially called for the Bishnoi group to be designated a terror group, which will open up legislation allowing authorities to clamp down on relevant crimes.
During a recent interview with CBC News on the topic, BC Gurdwaras Council spokesperson Bhai Moninder Singh asked “if the Bishnoi gang is a terrorist org, wouldn’t that make India a terrorist state for operating through them in Canada as per RCMP claims in October 2024?”. The suggestion is being echoed by wider Sikh communities, with the expulsion of India’s diplomats from Canada underlining the belief Indian State staff were the ones orchestrating what is now being called “terrorism” in Canada.
Canadian authorities and media this week ignored claims stemming from India that a recent Surrey (British Columbia) shooting was the handiwork of a “Khalistani terrorist”.
Within hours of a shooting at approximately 1.30am on 10th July targeting Kap’s Cafe, located in Surrey’s Newton neighborhood on 120th Street, Indian nationalist X (Twitter) users were sharing a video of the criminal act, claiming it was part of a Khalistani (free Sikh homeland) terror campaign targeting the owner of the newly opened cafe, Punjabi celebrity Kapil Sharma.
The social media posts by Indian nationalists came before any Canadian media or authorities had released a statement on the incident and were nearly immediately picked up on by Indian media. The posts by Indian nationalist media figures claimed the existence of a yet to be seen confession from a so-called “Khalistani terrorist” named Harjit Singh Laddi, based in Germany. The outlandish Indian media claims report the existence of a confession which says the shooting was setup because Sharma had made disrespectful comments about the attire of Nihang Sikhs, a more-military focused faction of the faith.
To date, The Sikh Press Association has not been able to ascertain the existence of any confession from any individual nor Khalistan group to this shooting. No Indian media reports provide any links nor images nor video footage of any confession from the individual said to be associated to Khalistan.An alleged video circulating said to be of Harjit Singh Laddi “confessing” includes zero references to Khalistan. Sikh PA will not be sharing any such unverified content.No official statement on the incident has been released by any Indian police/investigative unit, let alone confirmation of the culprit.
Also to be noted, no link exists to suggest someone called Harjit Singh Laddi is any type of figure within the Khalistani community, such as appearances at any events or within any content from official groups. References to Laddi only begin to appear within India media and statements by authorities in 2024, with only sparse reference to Khalistan links.
Whilst Indian media ran with the unverified claims in both suspicious and brazen fashion, comparatively both of Canada’s two biggest media outlets – Global News and CBC News – did not reference the Khalistan allegations. Other Canadian media outlets did mention the Indian media allegations, although without sensationalizing the as of yet completely baseless allegations.
Speaking on the Indian media attempt to warp the Canadian media narrative, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:
“It is great to see the majority of Canadian media outlets show they are not to be swayed by completely baseless claims from India which go against every basic protocol of Canadian law. In India, proscribing guilt before any legal process is normal, but it should not be in the West, where there is due process with such situations.
“Furthermore, the allegations from India make no sense at all. Kapil Sharma has never been mentioned by any Khalistan nor Nihang group as a disrespectful or provocative person. On the contrary, Sharma has notably been the target if an Indian nationalist hate campaign for his support for Sikh activists.”
The attacks linked to the Bishnoi gang – which speculatively includes this recent shooting towards Kapil Sharma – all are near identical in their execution and manner of release (brazen videos). This reputation around the Bishnoi gang has led to calls for the network to be labelled a terrorist entity, something which may be difficult given some beliefs that the Bishnoi label is merely a proxy for India’s government own criminal network workings.
The fact that the extortion seems to near exclusively target Punjabis was also highlighted by advocacy group World Sikh Org of Canada, who also stated “it is now abundantly clear that these gangs have ties to the Government of India.”
Various Sikh X users also pointed out the suspicious fact that Indian nationalist posters seemed to have the news – including video footage – before any Canadian media or authorities.
Sikhs For Justice, the group behind the global Khalistan Referendum campaign, released a statement on the accusations, calling the Indian narrative “disinformation…part of India’s hybrid warfare” to “delegitimize the Khalistan Referendum”.
The suspicious manner of the news first breaking via Indian nationalist X users also resembles the now notorious murder of Sukhdool Singh Gill in Winnipeg. Just hours after Indian media proclaimed Gill a wanted Khalistani terrorist, Gill was slain in his apartment, only for Punjab Police to later tell CBC News he was not a terrorist but just a criminal. Read more on this ultra-suspect case here- Punjabi Canadian appears on Indian “terror” hit list, murdered hours later, Indian media report it first- what’s going on? | SikhPA
Although police have since been active in Surrey, no official update on the case has yet come out.
UPDATE: An arrest was made less than 24-hours after the incident, with more info set to come.
An attack on a Gurdwara in Nuneaton (Warwickshire, UK) is being investigated as a hate crime, after a disturbing incident yesterday afternoon.
According to local sevadaars (selfless servants), police are investigating the incident is being investigated for criminal damage, trespassing and hate crime, based on a young man desecrating Sikh literature, contaminating communal food and attacking the Granthi (person in charge of prayers), who was leading prayers at the time.
Around 5pm on 08.07.25 a youth – described as likely a teenager of fair/pale complexion – entered the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Nuneation and walked into the langar (communal kitchen) hall. A Gurdwara is open to all, as is langar. Seen later on via CCTV footage, the youth then contaminated fruit which was out for the langar service with an unknown substance. The youth then entered an area with books and began desecrating images of the Sikh Gurus on these books. NOTE- These books were NOT sacred Sikh scripture (EG pothi sahibs- compilations of Gurbani, sacred Sikh scripture). The youth then picked up potatoes from the kitchen area of the langar hall, then entered into the darbar (meaning ‘King’s Court’, referring to the main prayer hall with setup for Sikh scriptural Guru, Guru Granth Sahib Ji), and threw the potatoes at the granthi, who was reading prayers at the time. Darbar was empty at the time, except for the Granthi. Upon becoming aware of the assault and after completing his passage, the Granthi got up and went to apprehend the youth, who then ran out of the building. No Sikh protocol – such as covering one’s head and removing shoes – was kept by the youth.
The incident was brought to light via a Sikh Channel report, spoken on by community figure Kam Singh, in what is now viral footage. According to local sevadaars, the initial police response to the call from the Gurdwara committee about the incident was not urgent enough, saying they would attend the Gurdwara the next day, leading to sangat (Sikh congregation) from across the Midlands attending to ensure the Gurdwara was secured, and also pressing police into responding sooner.
Community figure Kam Singh spoke to The Sikh Press Association, saying, “The incident was clearly a hate crime. Images of our Gurus were specifically targeted, and an attempt to disrupt our practices- langar and paat (prayer recital) – were made. Sikhs are aware of previous attacks on our Gurdwaras in India, the UK, USA and Australia, driven by different types of bigotry. For this reason, the police needed to take this seriously and we are glad they now are, and the Gurdwara committee will continue to engage with them until justice is done.“
Warwickshire Police are believed to now be searching for the individual, whose image was captured on CCTV.
The Sikh community is in a unique position of often being targeted by different types of bigotry, including white-supremacy, Hindutva (Hindu extremism) and Islamic extremism, all of which have resulted in attacks on Gurdwaras within recent years.
More will be provided on this story as information comes in.
US Assistant Attorney General condemns recent anti-Sikh attacks
/0 Comments/in News /by adminAmid global concern of a rise in anti-Sikh hate, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Kaur Dhillon condemned attacks on “law-abiding Sikhs…simply because of who they are” this week.
The statement by Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, the Sikh Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, came after widespread bigoted reactions to a reckless driving incident by a Sikh driver in Ontario (California) on 21st October. Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Yuba City resident, was in control of a truck when it sped through slow traffic, destroying vehicles and leaving three dead.
Jashanpreet Singh entered the US illegally in 2022 and was intoxicated when the collisions happened, prompting a furious backlash within an already prominent anti-immigrant political climate in the country. Jashanpreet’s incident is similar to the recent Florida Turnpike accident in August, involving another illegal immigrant Sikh trucker, Harjinder Singh, which also provoked an anti-Sikh backlash, now reignited by Jashanpreet Singh’s collision. Note- Harjinder Singh was not said to have been intoxicated like Jashanpreet Singh was. Jashanpreet Singh is being charged with driving under the influence of drugs, causing bodily injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Reports of racist incidents targeting Sikhs have increased since the Florida incident, an issue exacerbated online by Hindutva (Hindu extremist) groups maligning the wider Sikh community and Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement as somehow to blame for Jashanpreet’s acident.
Immediately after the crash became public knowledge, humanitarian charity and advocacy group United Sikhs released statements calling for a fair trial for Jashanpreet, having also stated the trial of Harjinder Singh was being impacted by anti-immigrant sentiment, points raised in TV interviews by United Sikhs reps recently. See more here.
Jashanpreet Singh remains on trial, having pleaded not-guilty on 24th October at San Bernardino County Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga (California). During the hearing, Jashanpreet Singh appeared stripped of his dastaar (Sikh turban), an issue which was raised by many, underlining concerns of the lack of human rights afforded to Jashanpreet and Sikhs facing incarceration in the USA.
For her statement, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon was met with both support but also completely bigoted criticism. Some prominent bigoted accounts have been shown to be followed by Vice-President JD Vance. Harmeet was also target of a vicious backlash by Christian supremacists and white supremacists when she performed an ardaas (Sikh prayer) at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July, receiving accusations of pushing “demon worship” and more. Dhillon also performed an ardas at the RNC in 2016. Within her work as a longtime Republican Party figure and respected lawyer, Dhillon has still regularly supported Sikh issues through her career, including raising concerns around transnational repression and supporting identity rights. Harmeet Kaur Dhillon was appointed as Assistant Attorney General by President Donald Trump, who has publicly praised her work on several occasions.
The fallout of the Jashanpreet Singh tragedy also includes a deeper look at how immigrants in the USA obtain trucking licenses, an issue which is already under intense anti-migrant scrutiny, much to the concern of much of the Sikh community. Read more on that here. Meanwhile, Sikh groups remain rallying the wider community in response to intensified hate and policy changes impacting lawful workers, such as the estimated 100,000+ working in the trucking industry.
As the trials against Harjinder Singh and Jashanpreet Singh continue, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon (who is one of three Assistant Attorney Generals) made her stance clear, saying her team would “aggressively prosecute or pursue justice against those engaged in such discrimination” targeting Sikhs.
“INSUFFICIENT”- Sikh reaction to Canada’s Bishnoi Gang terror designation
/0 Comments/in News /by adminIndian 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:
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).
Court halts India’s infamous High Commission protest “attack” case
/0 Comments/in News /by adminA UK Indian High Commission court case against a Sikh activist has been stayed by the presiding judge, two-years since the initial incident, which is linked to another Sikh activist’s alleged murder by India.
On 16th September 2025, proceedings brought against Gurcharan Singh at Southwark Crown Court concerning alleged attempted criminal damage to the Indian flag during a protest at its London High Commission building in March 2023 were stayed (meaning temporarily halted).
The ruling brings a long-running saga into its final chapter. The initial incident began with Indian media accusations of “violent terrorism” by British Sikhs, then triggered a major diplomatic fallout, and is linked to the poisoning of a Sikh activist who was the main person accused of desecrating the flag, despite not even being in attendance.
Gurcharan Singh (a noted UK activist part of the Dal Khalsa UK group) and two other Sikh activists (who will remain anonymous) currently face no charges regarding the accusations from an Indian High Commission rep. One activist was arrested on the day of the protest (19th March 2023) and the other was arrested later that year in August, whilst Gurcharan Singh was arrested even later that year, in October, at another protest outside the same Indian High Commission.
The initial incident occurred around midday on 19th March 2023, when Sikh protests broke out across the world after Indian authorities locked down parts of Punjab. Invasion by thousands of paramilitary groups and a communications shutdown were part of mass state action against critics of India in Punjab, which was mainly focused on targeting Bhai Amritpal Singh.
The situation became known as #PanjabUnderSiege. Bhai Amritpal Singh became subject of one of the largest manhunts in history during the period, only to turn himself in later. He remains a Sikh political prisoner since, but is now also an elected MP, having contested and won – voted in by 400,000 people – in last year’s India general election.
During the 19th March 2023 protest at India’s London High Commission (IHC), amongst dozens of protesters some criminal damage to the building allegedly occurred. However, it was video footage of a Sikh man – unidentifiable from footage – pulling down India’s tiranga (tri-colour; national flag) from the front of the building which sparked global Indian outrage. Footage of the incident was broadcasted worldwide by Indian media and Hindu nationalist social media users (including official government and army reps), all of which sensationalised the incident as “terrorism” and a “violent attack”.
In response to the Indian reaction, a viral take from Professor Andrew Macleod seemed to express wider sentiment, when the Australian geopolitical expert accused Indians of overreacting and being “petulant”, whilst speaking on the incident on a news panel show.
In what is in hindsight a completely sinister move, Indian media quickly blamed noted Sikh activist Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda for the incident, despite Khanda not being in attendance. Khanda was a respected figure of the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement, demonised by Indian media and authorities even before the March 2023 incident. His false framing as the culprit of the overblown incident is cited as pre-emptive justification for his death, which was celebrated as an Indian State murder on social media before the news had even been confirmed in Sikh communities.
As well as the fallout targeting Sikh activists, the UK also faced diplomatic pressure after the incident. Firstly, the UK consulate head of Delhi was summoned to answer questions, whilst simultaneously security (in the form of basic gating) was removed from the UK Delhi High Commission building, with Indian media commentators openly saying it was retaliation for a perceived failure of the UK to protect India’s High Commission in London.
Weeks later, using the false framing against Khanda as justification, the mother of the Birmingham (Midlands) based activist was imprisoned in India for a period, in what was seen as an attempt to hurt and discourage Khanda’s activism.
Then, just a month later, Khanda succumbed to a very short and serious illness, passing away after a public claim that he would be “eliminated”, made by Hindu extremist India national security commentator Major Gaurav Arya.
Read more on the assassination of Khanda:
At the time, Punjab and the Sikh diaspora communities seemed to be becoming more understanding of the Khalistan movement post the 2020 Farmers Protest stand against Narendra Modi’s Indian government, based on social sentiment and grassroots support for Khalistan orgs. In response, India’s demonisation of noted Sikh activists intensified, including toward Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed soon after Khanda died, in Surrey (BC, Canada).
Even after the fallout around the assassinations of Sikh activists (which included the killing of Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan in May 2023), efforts to target the alleged perpetrators of the London High Commission “attack” continued, with India sending intelligence officers into the UK for further investigation in September 2023.
After reports of India’s NIA (National Investigation Agency) presence in the UK, Gurcharan Singh found himself under arrest weeks later for desecration of India’s flag in March 2023, whilst protesting at the same site. Despite Gurcharan Singh’s arrest and the fact he was officially named as the accused by Indian diplomats, there was no attempt to absolve Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, who was named in headlines across India regarding the incident.
Once the case against the protesters was underway, Sikh PA is aware that a diplomat even waived diplomatic immunity in order to participate in the case by giving witness statements.
Although the initial police charge related to damage to the India Consulate flag, later allegations from the Indian diplomat included:
– Gurcharan Singh broke bones in his hand, resulting him requiring surgery
– 12 windows were smashed and the VIP entrance door of the building, causing approximately £20,000 worth of criminal damage to the consulate building
Evidence for the alleged damage to the building was also presented through a receipt for a £13,000 payment from the consulate to a maintenance company.
Tellingly, no Indian media have yet covered the news of the case being dismissed, despite the mass coverage which occurred when the initial accusations began, after the 2023 March #PunjabUnderSiege protest.
Speaking on the current status of the case, Gurcharan Singh said “At this stage, there is no case to answer. I am pleased with this outcome. I thank everyone who has supported me through this.
“The Indian government has been unable to provide evidence as to the monetary value of the flag or the cost of any alleged damage. In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for sustaining a criminal charge.
“It is clear that the case was an attempt to curtail the fundamental right of Sikhs to peacefully protest against the actions of the Indian state while in the United Kingdom. The right to protest is a cornerstone of democratic society and attempts to criminalise legitimate dissent undermine this principle.”
Gurcharan Singh remains involved in Sikh activism, and specifically standing against Hindutva tyranny and in support of the Khalistan movement.
NOTE- The Sikh Press Association is aware of further impact regarding the March 2023 protest and Indian accusations towards attendees. However, in respect of sangat (Sikh congregation) wishes, we will not be specifying other impacted parties.
Sikh activist facing India death threat arrested for firearm possession, but how did India find out first?
/0 Comments/in News /by adminA noted Canadian Sikh activist was arrested for firearm possession offences this week, just after he was offered witness protection based on an Indian State threat to his life.
And in an additional twist, Indian media reported the news before any Canadian authorities released public details on it, posing questions as to how India’s notoriously nationalist media would get such information on someone viewed as an enemy of India.
Inderjit Singh Gosal was charged with a dozen firearms-related offences after being arrested by Ontario Provincial Police in Whitby on 19th September. He appeared in court in Oshawa on Monday, but even before then Indian media were pushing out the story. The 36-year-old was arrested with fellow activists Arman Singh, 23, of Toronto, and Jagdeep Singh, 41, a resident of New York. News of the arrest was first broken by Indian nationalist news outlets like NDTV.
The early reporting by Indian nationalist social media accounts mirrors suspicious action around other criminal incidents in Canada, including the 2023 murder of a Sikh man in Winnipeg (Manitoba) and a previous attempt on Gosal’s life, which was actually reported as a successful Indian State hit by some. The Winnipeg murder of Sukhdool Gill has been cited as a likely example of a coordinated Indian State hit, according to Canadian authorities.
Only a week before Gosal’s arrest the respected activist was offered witness protection services based on a threat to his life, related to his role as the Canadian coordinator of the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland), a role previously held by Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed by criminals funded by the Indian State in 2023 in Surrey (BC). The arrest also comes shortly after Canada’s National Security Advisor Nathalie G Drouin met with her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, a notorious figure exposed by Washington Post via intelligence leaks as leading “harassment” of Sikh diaspora activists.
Gosal was targeted in a shooting last year in February, and then later that year received his first “duty to warn” notice by police regarding a pending threat to his life. The threat is connected to the presence of the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal network in Canada, which is viewed as a proxy for the Indian State funding criminals to carry out transnational repression targeting critics of India. As recently as May, the Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder of a Sikh businessman local to Gosal, and are also linked with several other shootings across North America targeting Sikhs.
Gosal was also involved in an incident which sparked a day of anti-Sikh unrest across Canada, when he was targeted by a Hindu extremist mob whilst protesting outside a Brampton Mandir last November, resulting in his arrest for his role in a skirmish. Indian media currently link Gosal’s arrest to the meeting between Drouin and Doval, raising suspicion in Sikh circles about what has led to the arrest of Gosal.
A statement by Sikhs For Justice on the arrest highlighted India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threat about eliminating enemies of India “in their foreign homes”, whilst also raising the incident as a test for Canada PM Mark Carney, regarding the rights of Sikhs advocating for Khalistan in Canada.
Speaking on the arrest, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:
“There must be serious questions as to how news of this arrest reached Indian media and random Indian nationalist accounts first. The process of the arrest means it makes no sense for intricate detail of the arrest to reach Indian media first. Canadian authorities need to be clear about how this could happen, or else it leaves many questions about Inderjit Singh Gosal’s situation.
“Furthermore, global Sikh attention will be on this case, given the shocking amount of murders of Sikhs in Canada within the last two-years linked to the Indian State, via criminal networks like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. There is a growing belief that Sikhs are being forced to be sitting-ducks for Indian violence whilst Canadian authorities do nothing and also allow nothing for those targeted to protect themselves.”
In 2018 a series of raids on UK Sikh activists was cited as the result of “diplomatic pressure” from India. A Sikh Press Association request to Ontario Provincial Police for further information on how news of the arrest could be broken by Indian outlets first has thus far been ignored.
Sikh groups rally for “peaceful grandmother” left without bed, toilet and water during ICE detainment
/0 Comments/in News /by adminLATEST UPDATE- The 20th Sept demonstration outside the Bakersfield ICE detention facility was cancelled due to Harjit Kaur being removed from the site. Her current whereabouts are unknown, as ICE refuse to divulge more info.
Sikh groups are rallying in support for a 73-year-old Sikh grandmother who has been in the USA for 33-years, currently suffering amid imprisonment by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in California (USA).
Harjit Kaur, a resident of Bakersfield in California since 1992, was “dragged away by guards” on 8th September during a routine ICE check-in, which she had been doing for 13-years as required. She has been left in a local detainment facility since where she says she “would rather die” than be, due to various human rights breaches.
According to reports from her attorney Deepak Ahluwalia and also her daughter-in-law Manjit Kaur, Harjit Kaur has faced:
The grandmother is considered an illegal alien because she did not have the required travel documents when arriving in the USA, coming as a widow with her two young sons as India’s Sikh genocide was still in a peak period. India would have only been four-years into existence as an independent nation when she was born, making it a period when not all individuals were able to obtain modern legal documentation such as a birth certificate. Harjit Kaur was allowed to stay in the USA based on a lengthy series of legal challenges she raised regarding her status. In 2012 her final appeal to stay was rejected, and Harjit Kaur accepted she would leave to return to Punjab. However, to return Harjit Kaur needed an emergency certificate – a one-way travel document for Indians of invalid status to enable them to return. This would require verifying Harjit Kaur’s origin and identity in Punjab through photos, cross-checking with relatives or acquaintances or finding old records. A decade since applying for this, between US immigration and India’s US embassy, Harjit Kaur has not received her emergency travel certificate. As such, she is still allowed to legally remain in the USA. The fact that she had 13-years of regular immigration check-ins makes her detainment with ICE seems unnecessary to many. Harjit Kaur has had a knee replacement and also deals with a variety of other medical issues, which are not being treated under ICE, according to her attorney.
Harjit Kaur worked several different jobs as legally entitled to do during her time in the USA, paying taxes and having an unblemished record whilst raising a family in Bakersfield. A rep of the local Gurdwara where Harjit Kaur attended daily said “she always helped people”. Hundreds of supporters turned up to a 12th September protest regarding her detainment. Harjit Kaur spent much of her day-to-day caring for her grandchildren, before her callous incarceration. Her family also say her Harjit Kaur no longer has any support (home or a family) in India.
Advocacy group Sikh Coalition are lobbying to have Harjit Kaur brought home to her family in Bakersfield, whilst community group Jakara Movement plan more demonstrations and community meetings on concerns about ICE. Recently Umeed Hope, an Indianapolis (Indiana) based Sikh-run charity, also highlighted community issues with ICE, underlining national Sikh community concerns.
Protests have been held across the US against a perceived heavy-handed approach by ICE, amid wider divisions around anti-immigrant sentiment under the President Trump regime. Much of the support for the current ICE campaign was based on an idea the “worst-of-the-worst” would be targeted according to Trump, and not “peaceful grandmothers”, as Harjit Kaur’s local Senator Jesse Arreguin put it, whilst calling her imprisonment “shameful”.
Harjit Kaur’s local congressman John Garamendi said ICE’s treatment of Harjit Kaur showed “misplaced priorities of Trump’s immigration enforcement”, whilst calling her a “respected member of the community”. An official ICE response to the situation said they were simply “enforcing the law” and that Harjit Kaur would not be allowed to “waste any more US tax dollars”. Contrary to this, some estimate the cost of imprisoning Harjit Kaur is costing the taxpayer more than it would be to simply appropriately process her case, without needing to imprison her. Harjit Kaur’s family are also saying they will immediately facilitate her travel to India upon release when the necessary certification is received.
Another rally is set for TODAY (20th September) as efforts for her release continue.
Find further detail on her situation at BringHarjitHome.com.
Solidarity, bigotry and ragebait- Reaction to a Sikh man’s fatal accident
/0 Comments/in News /by adminA fatal accident involving a Sikh truck driver residing in the USA illegally has caused a global news storm over the last few weeks, prompting Sikh orgs to react to the “bigotry”.
Harjinder Singh performed an illegal u-turn maneuver which led to three deaths as a vehicle collided with his 18-wheeler truck in Turnpike (St Lucie County, Florida) on 12th August. Beyond the tragic outcome on the day, a wider fallout has occurred, which Singh’s public defendant said was “politically charged”.
After the accident, over the next week, the story slowly became one of the biggest in the USA and subsequently the world, with major political figures and social commentators speaking on it as an example of all that is wrong with America’s immigration policies, thus making visibly Sikh man Harjinder Singh (28-years-old) the face of immigration evils in the country.
Speaking on the fallout, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said, “There was a perfect storm of events which led to this story becoming as big as it did.
“Firstly, we are in midst of a massive focus on immigration in general in the USA, and the tone has become overtly harsher amid the violent ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) campaign. Secondly, despite growth in awareness of the Sikh faith, turbaned-bearded men remain a defining image of anti-immigration rhetoric. Finally, the presence of Sikhs in North America’s trucking industry was already under attack. It is the essence of the success of many Sikh families and the influence which comes from that threatens both far-right racists and Hindu nationalist extremists.
“Also, the Trump admin and its supporters would have been relieved to have a story to redirect attention away from things like the Epstein list and ongoing questions about Israel’s influence in the USA. As such, many major pro-Trump figures amplified the story.”
In the USA, in the same week of Harjinder Singh’s incident, a white trucker carried out targeted murder with his truck, but it did not receive anything close to the attention of the Harjinder Singh accident, which was pointed out by some anti-racist influencers.
Meanwhile, a Hindutva (Hindu extremist) effort to demonize the Sikh presence in North American trucking includes claiming random incidents of Punjabi-background truckers involved in criminal activities are evidence of a Khalistani narco-trade, despite no evidence of such an issue existing. Just back in June Peel Police were forced to counter false info on drugs raids after Indian Canadian politician Ujjal Dosanjh claimed they were Khalistani linked.
Likely due to a carryover of skills from Punjab which are valued and common, with driving large vehicles a key part of farm life in the agricultural state, Sikhs are estimated to hold over 150,000 trucking positions in the USA. Read more on this via Sikh Coalition.
Harjinder Singh’s Tik-Tok account revealed support for Khalistan, leaving Hindu nationalists rabid in pushing a completely baseless allegation there was a sinister political motive behind the truck accident. However, the ridiculous claims remain circulating only within Hindutva circles, whilst being ignored by US media. Further insight into Harjinder Singh revealed he received his trucking licence in California through loopholes allowing someone with his status to take up the occupation, further fracturing political differences between California’s allegedly super-liberal approach to migration, compared to other US states.
Underlining the impact of the incident, on 21st August the Trump admin via Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the government would immediately stop the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
On the same day a petition was started by a non-Sikh which sparked even more backlash by calling for “fair sentencing” for Harjinder Singh. The petition was not started by any Sikh org nor official spokesperson, family member or even friend of Harjinder Singh, but started by a non-Sikh, Manisha Kaushal. Although openly supported by countless individual Sikhs, suspicions about the petition arose as many duplicate names and messages indicated bots were used to push up the numbers of signatures. Simultaneously, Indian nationalist profiles used the petition to portray the Sikh community as unsympathetic and violent. Even state senator Ron De Santis spoke on the petition, condemning it.
Seemingly in response to the petition for leniency, at least two others were started calling for maximum punishment for Harjinder Singh, including calls for him to be deported to the infamous El Salvador super-maximum security prison known for its shocking factory-farm-like living conditions, where allegedly some ICE deportees are being sent.
Due to the backlash, some Sikhs outright condemned the leniency petition. USA community figure Karanveer Singh Pannun created a viral response to the petition which was well received by thousands, in which he outlined it as “ragebait”. No Sikh organizations pushed the petition in any way, despite claims to the otherwise by Hindutva accounts.
As the furore continued, the first official court hearing for Harjinder Singh on 23rd August came around and caused alarm for Sikh groups wondering why he had been stripped of his religious right to keep his head covered.
Singh was flown into Florida from California – where he resided and legally flew back to after the accident – in a very public display, as his case continued to dominate US media. Harjinder Singh was denied bond, charged with vehicular homicide and also with manslaughter. His brother Harneet – his passenger in the truck at the time – was also later arrested for his immigration status, and remains incarcerated pending deportation.
The relentless racist rhetoric and the disinformation around his case prompted Sikh orgs to respond, with some offering legal support.
Reflection on the Case of Harjinder Singh – Sikh Coalition
However, it was the response of Sikhs For Justice which garnered most attention on 26th August, when the group behind the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) Referendum sent a delegation to meet with Harjinder Singh and had spokesperson Gurpatwant Singh Pannun speak outside his jail. Pannun’s speech was aired across the USA, as the SFJ General Counsel and New York based lawyer spoke to show “solidarity” with the victims, saying Harjinder Singh was “grieving” for them, whilst also emphasizing his religious rights through the prosecution process. Pannun also announced SFJ would donate $100,000 to the victims’ families. Pannun’s media addressal had a positive impact on perceptions of how the incident is viewed by Sikhs, as seen through some social media posts.
Following Pannun’s involvement, Harjinder Singh was finally allowed headwear, as part of his rights as a Sikh.
Two days later, SFJ held a public ardas (Sikh prayer) for the victims outside the jail, whilst also advocating for a fair trial for Harjinder Singh. In an incredible turn of events, the vigil was also sight of another truck crash, which then saw SFJ sevadaars (selfless servants) stage an impromptu rescue of the stuck driver.
The victims were recently revealed to be three Haitian migrants, all related, aged 30, 37 and 54. Some have suggested there may now be less focus on Harjinder Singh then there would have been had the victims been white. However, US media commentators continue to state the case is political and will be processed differently as a result.
The trucking company behind Harjinder Singh’s employment have since been cited for violations, with official charges pending. A Republican backed senate bill is also in motion to make wider changes regarding trucking proficiency, specifically based on the Harjinder Singh accident. Furthermore, in Florida truck inspection stations are now being used as ICE checkpoints, showing the ongoing impact of Harjinder Singh’s case.
In a change of his legal circumstances, on 3rd September United Sikhs announced they would be representing Harjinder Singh through the charity’s legal division.
In summary of the situation, Jasveer Singh said, “Comments from the likes of Ron De Santis and the State Prosecutor of Florida show intention to make an example of Harjinder Singh. Whilst not intentional, his actions were reckless and his immigration status is being viewed as accountable for that recklessness.
“Of course, Harjinder Singh must be accountable for his mistakes, but there is no doubt there is extra negative attention being given to his case too, and unfortunately that will only have an impact on wider Sikh communities, especially in the USA.”
UK Charity Commission drop Khalistan “objection” amid shock at “concerning” investigation
/0 Comments/in News /by adminThe conclusion of a six-year Charity Commission investigation on a UK Gurdwara sent shockwaves through global Sikh circles this week, as an “objection” to “Khalistan boards” was dropped, prompting some to ask “How was this even up for debate?”.
Based on a 2019 “mischievous reporting” by “Indian journalist” Loveena Tandon, an employee of India’s notoriously nationalist media, the Charity Commission were said to have been misled into spending half-a-decade investigating a so-called issue of Slough Singh Sabha Gurdwara (Berkshire) having the word “Khalistan” on display boards, which they have had up for 40-years.
Khalistan refers to the free Sikh homeland movement which was ratified as an official panthic (Sikh path/community) objective in 1986, 18-months after the peak of India’s Sikh genocide, in a mass consensus building gathering known as a Sarbat Khalsa. Support for Khalistan is prominently displayed at nearly every major diaspora Gurdwara (Southall, Surrey, Brampton, Stockton, etc) and major Sikh gatherings (1984 rallies, Nagar Kirtans, etc). However, in India, support for Khalistan is largely criminalised, with even owning literature regarding the movement resulting in imprisonment of individuals. Countless Gurdwaras also display images of figures of the Khalistan movement, including rebels who fought against India’s tyranny with aim of Sikh liberation. Such images and displays are also common in Sikh homes, something which the BBC were criticised for trying to hide in 2023.
In a statement on the outcome Slough Singh Sabha committee said it “welcomes the decision” by the Commission “to withdraw its objection”, with it now “recognising the long-standing spiritual significance” of the displays in support of Khalistan. The group also highlighted that the investigation caused “considerable anxiety in the congregation and wider Sikh community” due to the constraints and needless debate it put on ideas of Sikh expression. The Slough Singh Sabha statement also revealed the Charity Commission took six-years to realise “‘Khalistan’ has both an important religious meaning…also a physical political meaning”…and thus does “not wish to interfere in theological issues”.
The Charity Commission move against Sikh expression likely stemmed from “pressure from the Indian government” according to Sikh Federation UK. Following the conclusion, the community advocacy body also said Gurdwaras can now “prominently display Khalistan plaques” joining “a number of Gurdwaras in Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, East Ham, Gravesend, Leicester, Smethwick, West Bromwich and Watford already display Khalistan plaques where the Charity Commission had raised no objections.” SFUK are also chasing up transparency on correspondence the Charity Commission had regarding the investigation, to expose who was influencing the regulatory body to chase up what is now officially a non-issue.
In response to the news, former MP Claudia Webbe called the investigation “concerning”. Respected educational outlet Akaal Publishers also questioned why Charity Commission would be “on a political mission to demonise self-determination, a UN recognised human right”.
Singh Sabha Slough also publicly thanked Sikh community groups and individuals – including MPs – involved in ensuring a just outcome (see below).
Speaking on the story, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said, “Many community figures are hoping this will be a breakthrough moment for the Charity Commission regarding perceptions of Khalistan support. We are aware various Sikh organisations have been pressured about support or connection with the Khalistan movement, in a way which suggests the Commission is simply acting upon Indian government narratives. Some investigations are ongoing. The idea of foreign interference impacting British Sikhs this way is clearly concerning to the community, and thus there is expectation for this outcome to create a domino effect, which includes a push for transparency around who they corresponded with too. Especially in light of geopolitical revelations around India’s anti-Sikh transnational repression campaign, there will be a global Sikh focus on the UK Charity Commission from hereon.”
See the SFUK statement in full here. See the Singh Sabha Slough statement here.
Campaign adds pressure on Canada to address Bishnoi-India criminal network
/0 Comments/in News /by adminWorld Sikh Organization this week called for Sikh constituents to contact their local MPs about “Indian diplomats…running clandestine operations on Canadian soil”, as efforts to tackle India’s “Bishnoi” crime network continue.
The national call by the advocacy body is calling Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to rekindle relations with India “Too Soon, Too Dangerous”, as part of a campaign working against the now undeniable anti-Sikh Indian criminal network carrying out crimes such as extortion and murder in Canada.
See more info on the campaign here.
The call comes amid ongoing terror from the Indian nationalist criminal network known as the “Lawrence Bishnoi Gang”. However, the gang – which refers to infamous nationalist criminal Lawrence Bishnoi and his criminal syndicate – is largely viewed as a proxy for actions facilitated by Indian State diplomats, giving license to Indian nationalist criminals to target certain individuals. As historically seen with the case of Vishal Jood in Australia, such criminals are rewarded for their actions.
Only last week Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and Brampton (Ontario) Mayor Patrick Brown as major Canadian political figures to have recently officially called for the Bishnoi group to be designated a terror group, which will open up legislation allowing authorities to clamp down on relevant crimes.
The Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder of a Sikh man in Brampton in May and recent shootings in Surrey and Alberta, just to name a few of the recent crimes linked to the group. Uncoincidentally, one of those targeted in recent Surrey shootings being claimed by the Bishnoi group has been the subject of a Hindu nationalist hate campaign led by Hindutva (Hindu extremist) propagandist Kushal Mehra, who regularly tours Canada. Mehra also ran a hate campaign against Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown before a Hindu man was recently arrested for threatening him.
During a recent interview with CBC News on the topic, BC Gurdwaras Council spokesperson Bhai Moninder Singh asked “if the Bishnoi gang is a terrorist org, wouldn’t that make India a terrorist state for operating through them in Canada as per RCMP claims in October 2024?”. The suggestion is being echoed by wider Sikh communities, with the expulsion of India’s diplomats from Canada underlining the belief Indian State staff were the ones orchestrating what is now being called “terrorism” in Canada.
Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com
IGNORED- Indian anti-Sikh claims on Surrey shooting dismissed in Canada
/0 Comments/in News /by adminCanadian authorities and media this week ignored claims stemming from India that a recent Surrey (British Columbia) shooting was the handiwork of a “Khalistani terrorist”.
Within hours of a shooting at approximately 1.30am on 10th July targeting Kap’s Cafe, located in Surrey’s Newton neighborhood on 120th Street, Indian nationalist X (Twitter) users were sharing a video of the criminal act, claiming it was part of a Khalistani (free Sikh homeland) terror campaign targeting the owner of the newly opened cafe, Punjabi celebrity Kapil Sharma.
The social media posts by Indian nationalists came before any Canadian media or authorities had released a statement on the incident and were nearly immediately picked up on by Indian media. The posts by Indian nationalist media figures claimed the existence of a yet to be seen confession from a so-called “Khalistani terrorist” named Harjit Singh Laddi, based in Germany. The outlandish Indian media claims report the existence of a confession which says the shooting was setup because Sharma had made disrespectful comments about the attire of Nihang Sikhs, a more-military focused faction of the faith.
To date, The Sikh Press Association has not been able to ascertain the existence of any confession from any individual nor Khalistan group to this shooting. No Indian media reports provide any links nor images nor video footage of any confession from the individual said to be associated to Khalistan. An alleged video circulating said to be of Harjit Singh Laddi “confessing” includes zero references to Khalistan. Sikh PA will not be sharing any such unverified content. No official statement on the incident has been released by any Indian police/investigative unit, let alone confirmation of the culprit.
Also to be noted, no link exists to suggest someone called Harjit Singh Laddi is any type of figure within the Khalistani community, such as appearances at any events or within any content from official groups. References to Laddi only begin to appear within India media and statements by authorities in 2024, with only sparse reference to Khalistan links.
Whilst Indian media ran with the unverified claims in both suspicious and brazen fashion, comparatively both of Canada’s two biggest media outlets – Global News and CBC News – did not reference the Khalistan allegations. Other Canadian media outlets did mention the Indian media allegations, although without sensationalizing the as of yet completely baseless allegations.
Speaking on the Indian media attempt to warp the Canadian media narrative, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:
“It is great to see the majority of Canadian media outlets show they are not to be swayed by completely baseless claims from India which go against every basic protocol of Canadian law. In India, proscribing guilt before any legal process is normal, but it should not be in the West, where there is due process with such situations.
“Furthermore, the allegations from India make no sense at all. Kapil Sharma has never been mentioned by any Khalistan nor Nihang group as a disrespectful or provocative person. On the contrary, Sharma has notably been the target if an Indian nationalist hate campaign for his support for Sikh activists.”
Sharma, an Amritsar (Punjab) born Bollywood comedian who has previously displayed support for Sikh activists, joins a growing list of Punjabi celebrities targeted in similar attacks in BC, with previously the infamous Lawrence Bishnoi gang taking responsibility for such attacks. Hindu Punjabis showing support for Sikh activism is common at a grassroots level in amongst the communities, due to direct observation of State subjugation and oppression.
The attacks linked to the Bishnoi gang – which speculatively includes this recent shooting towards Kapil Sharma – all are near identical in their execution and manner of release (brazen videos). This reputation around the Bishnoi gang has led to calls for the network to be labelled a terrorist entity, something which may be difficult given some beliefs that the Bishnoi label is merely a proxy for India’s government own criminal network workings.
The fact that the extortion seems to near exclusively target Punjabis was also highlighted by advocacy group World Sikh Org of Canada, who also stated “it is now abundantly clear that these gangs have ties to the Government of India.”
Various Sikh X users also pointed out the suspicious fact that Indian nationalist posters seemed to have the news – including video footage – before any Canadian media or authorities.
Sikhs For Justice, the group behind the global Khalistan Referendum campaign, released a statement on the accusations, calling the Indian narrative “disinformation…part of India’s hybrid warfare” to “delegitimize the Khalistan Referendum”.
An emerging pattern of Hindu businessmen connected within Sikh communities being targeted has made headlines across the world in recent weeks. Just last week in Punjab, noted businessman and fashion designer Sanjay Verma was gunned down, whilst extortion attempts against Surrey Hindu community figure Satish Kumar continue. Kumar was the target of a recent hate campaign run by Indian propagandist Kushal Mehra, a Modi government export into Canada with a reputation of stoking communal divisions.
The baseless allegations regarding non-existent “Khalistani terrorism” in Canada are also part of a wider pattern. In 2023 Indian media lied about “grenades” being launch at an Indian embassy in Canada by Khalistan protesters. In 2022 another false anonymous claim made Ottawa police believe Sikh men were going to blow up their own #SikhGenocide remembrance event, which they had their families – including children – attending. The ludicrous claim saw police needlessly detain and interrogate the Sikh organizers of the event.
The suspicious manner of the news first breaking via Indian nationalist X users also resembles the now notorious murder of Sukhdool Singh Gill in Winnipeg. Just hours after Indian media proclaimed Gill a wanted Khalistani terrorist, Gill was slain in his apartment, only for Punjab Police to later tell CBC News he was not a terrorist but just a criminal. Read more on this ultra-suspect case here-
Punjabi Canadian appears on Indian “terror” hit list, murdered hours later, Indian media report it first- what’s going on? | SikhPA
Although police have since been active in Surrey, no official update on the case has yet come out.
Alleged hate crime being investigated after Nuneaton Gurdwara attack
/0 Comments/in News /by adminUPDATE: An arrest was made less than 24-hours after the incident, with more info set to come.
An attack on a Gurdwara in Nuneaton (Warwickshire, UK) is being investigated as a hate crime, after a disturbing incident yesterday afternoon.
According to local sevadaars (selfless servants), police are investigating the incident is being investigated for criminal damage, trespassing and hate crime, based on a young man desecrating Sikh literature, contaminating communal food and attacking the Granthi (person in charge of prayers), who was leading prayers at the time.
Around 5pm on 08.07.25 a youth – described as likely a teenager of fair/pale complexion – entered the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Nuneation and walked into the langar (communal kitchen) hall. A Gurdwara is open to all, as is langar. Seen later on via CCTV footage, the youth then contaminated fruit which was out for the langar service with an unknown substance. The youth then entered an area with books and began desecrating images of the Sikh Gurus on these books. NOTE- These books were NOT sacred Sikh scripture (EG pothi sahibs- compilations of Gurbani, sacred Sikh scripture). The youth then picked up potatoes from the kitchen area of the langar hall, then entered into the darbar (meaning ‘King’s Court’, referring to the main prayer hall with setup for Sikh scriptural Guru, Guru Granth Sahib Ji), and threw the potatoes at the granthi, who was reading prayers at the time. Darbar was empty at the time, except for the Granthi. Upon becoming aware of the assault and after completing his passage, the Granthi got up and went to apprehend the youth, who then ran out of the building. No Sikh protocol – such as covering one’s head and removing shoes – was kept by the youth.
The incident was brought to light via a Sikh Channel report, spoken on by community figure Kam Singh, in what is now viral footage. According to local sevadaars, the initial police response to the call from the Gurdwara committee about the incident was not urgent enough, saying they would attend the Gurdwara the next day, leading to sangat (Sikh congregation) from across the Midlands attending to ensure the Gurdwara was secured, and also pressing police into responding sooner.
Community figure Kam Singh spoke to The Sikh Press Association, saying, “The incident was clearly a hate crime. Images of our Gurus were specifically targeted, and an attempt to disrupt our practices- langar and paat (prayer recital) – were made. Sikhs are aware of previous attacks on our Gurdwaras in India, the UK, USA and Australia, driven by different types of bigotry. For this reason, the police needed to take this seriously and we are glad they now are, and the Gurdwara committee will continue to engage with them until justice is done.“
Warwickshire Police are believed to now be searching for the individual, whose image was captured on CCTV.
The Sikh community is in a unique position of often being targeted by different types of bigotry, including white-supremacy, Hindutva (Hindu extremism) and Islamic extremism, all of which have resulted in attacks on Gurdwaras within recent years.
More will be provided on this story as information comes in.
Media@sikhpa.com.