Khalistani Groups’ Plot to ‘Disrupt’ Vijaydashmi Fest in Canada, ‘Planning Major Insults to Indians’ – News18

Last Updated: October 24, 2023, 11:34 IST

It is learnt that the pro-Khalistan people will also bring protestors who are already gathered in Surrey for October 28 referendum. (Getty)

According to sources, pro-Khalistan supporters are planning ‘major insults to Hindus and Indians’ by burning effigies of prominent Indian leaders.

The Khalistani groups are planning major disruptions during Vijaydashmi programme being organised by the Hindu community in Canada’s Surrey on Tuesday, October 24.

Sources told News18 that individuals and groups supportive of Khalistan are planning to bring huge vehicles to stop entry of Hindus to the venue.

“It is learnt that the pro-Khalistan people will also bring protestors who are already gathered in Surrey for October 28 programme for referendum,” the sources added.

Chief of Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has urged Canadian Sikhs to gather in Vancouver on October 28 for a referendum to vote on whether the Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is responsible for Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.

According to sources, they are planning “major insults to Hindus and Indians” by burning effigies of prominent Indian leaders.

Local Hindus said that Royal Canadian Mounted Police is not ready to take action because they say this is ongoing tension between India and Sikhs, and Canada gives freedom of speech.

CNN News18 had already reported that Khalistani groups are using Radio stations to radicalised young Sikhs born after 1984.

News agency PTI too reported that within Canada, there are Khalistani supporters who are enticing and easily influencing Sikh youth to immigrate to North America.

They are offering sponsorship for their visas, but their primary intention is to manipulate these individuals into advancing their Khalistan-related goals within the Canadian territory, the report stated.

Pro-Khalistani Sikhs Return from Europe, US; Radio Stations Hired for Radicalisation

Sources further told News18 that Sikhs from Italy, Germany, USA and UK have gathered in Vancouver for another Khalistani show. “This time their ring master is Amritbir Singh Cheema,” a source added.

Jalandhar-origin gangster Cheema is wanted in many cases in Punjab. He has applied for asylum in Canada where he has been living since 2015.

Sources said the group is using radio to radicalise people. “They have hired a radio station named Radio Punjab Vancouver for a daily two-hour show to radicalise people. It’s interesting to note that callers are also not locals from Canada. The calls are coming from California, which means local Canadians are hardly interested,” an official told News18.