RCMP publicly alleges Indian government officials are involved in violent crimes in Canada, but Sikh activists believe New Delhi will “continue unabated” despite increased attention He said that
Moninder Singh, president of the Canadian Sikh Federation, said in an interview with Rosemary Barton Live that the Sikh community “has known for over 40 years that this type of interference was happening.”
Singh himself has a “duty to warn” mandate from the RCMP. This is the RCMP’s way of notifying people of perceived threats to safety.
Asked if he thought public accusations would scare away those behind the threats, Singh said he did not think they would be “deterred” and would instead continue to support Sikh communities in countries such as Canada, the UK and Australia. He said he would target them.
Singh also referred to India’s northwestern Punjab state, the country’s only Sikh-majority state. The region has a history of Sikhs advocating the establishment of an independent homeland known as Khalistan.
Sikhs also accused the Indian government of human rights abuses in Punjab, including arbitrary detention and media suppression.
Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with RCMP Deputy Commissioner Bridget Gauvin about the investigation into allegations that the Indian government is involved in violence in Canada. Also included are conversations between BC Sikh activist Moninder Singh and Canadian-American Sikh activist Gurpatwant Panun. Both men are said to have received threats from India for supporting the Sikh state.
“I think all these factors are why the Indian government will continue unabated in any way.” [the RCMP allegations]” said Singh.
Indian authorities deny allegations of human rights abuses in Punjab and deny accusations from the RCMP.
Singh added that he does not believe that “safety is the top priority for our community at this time,” and that his goal is to ensure that Canadians’ right to speech is not violated.
Rosemary Burton Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Panun, who is also a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, says he is not concerned about his safety because of his religious beliefs. -Told it live.
U.S. authorities have indicted former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav on suspicion of directing a failed plot to kill Pannun in New York City last year.
Panun told host Rosemary Barton that Prime Minister Trudeau’s stance on claiming in the House of Commons last year that India was behind the killing of a Sikh activist in B.C. It shows,” he said. National security. ”
Overall, the Sikh community in the United States and Canada feels the government has their back and will not jeopardize the safety of their citizens, Panun said.
Some Sikhs have called for the closure of Indian embassies in Vancouver and Toronto. They argue that Sikhs in Canada will not be safe unless the consulate is closed.
Singh said India “has been treated with padded gloves and that has to change. Otherwise, there is no way to get India to cooperate until it actually bears the brunt of pressure from the international community.” I can’t do it,” he said.
India continues to deny the allegations
India’s government continues to reject RCMP claims that it is collaborating with insurgents, claims Canadian authorities have not produced any evidence and accuses Ottawa of trying to smear New Delhi. .
Shortly after the RCMP made the accusations public, Canada and India each expelled six diplomats.
Michel Tessier, former deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said the allegations were “obviously very concerning.”
“Given what the RCMP has said publicly and the steps the government has taken to expel diplomats, I would say it needs to be based on very solid information,” Tessier told Rosemary Barton Live. said on Rosemary Burton Live.
Testifying at the Foreign Interference Inquiry on Wednesday, Trudeau said the decision to publicize the allegations of violence in Canada was made to thwart such activity.
Prime Minister Trudeau said the Mounties likely wanted to keep the accusations out of the public eye, as the case is currently in court. He said the threat to public safety was so great that suspicion had to be raised.
