Sikh Activist Accuses India of Operating Spy Network in US and Canada

Sikh Activist

A prominent Sikh separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has called for Canada and the United States to take a stronger stance against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for allegedly attempting to suppress dissenting voices on foreign soil.

This demand comes in light of recent developments surrounding an alleged plot orchestrated by Indian operatives to assassinate Pannun, a dual citizen of the US and Canada.

The US Justice Department has recently unsealed indictments against two Indian nationals linked to this assassination scheme, which was reportedly aimed at Pannun while he was in New York.

Among the accused is a former government official who, according to the indictment, had served as an intelligence officer and played a pivotal role in orchestrating the murder plot.

In an interview with Reuters, Pannun asserted that the Modi administration should not be permitted to engage in hostile activities abroad. He described India’s consulates in the US and Canada as operating a “spy network,” although he did not provide any substantiating evidence for his claims.

Pannun emphasized that the US and Canada must assert their sovereignty by taking decisive action against Modi’s regime. He urged that these countries should permanently close the Indian consulates, stating that allowing such behavior to persist is unacceptable.

While Pannun’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among Sikh activists in North America, India’s foreign ministry has yet to respond to the specific allegations made by him. Since 2020, India has designated Pannun as a terrorist, intensifying the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Last year, both the US and Canada raised concerns over alleged Indian involvement in assassination attempts against advocates for Khalistan—a proposed Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab state.

The increasing tensions reached a boiling point when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India’s government of being implicated in the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist leader in Canada.

This incident prompted Canadian police to arrest and charge four Indian men, although the case has yet to go to trial.

In response to these allegations, India has maintained its denial of any involvement in assassination plots. The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has become strained, leading both nations to expel six diplomats earlier this month as tensions mount.

Pannun has further commented on Vikash Yadav, the former Indian official implicated in the assassination plot. He described Yadav as merely a “middle-tier soldier” acting on directives from higher-ranking officials.

However, Pannun has not provided evidence to support this assertion. Indian authorities have claimed Yadav is no longer in government service but have refrained from confirming his previous role as an intelligence officer or disclosing when he left.

Concerns within Indian security circles continue to grow, fearing that increasing support for Khalistan abroad could rekindle militancy reminiscent of the turmoil in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by significant violence and loss of life.

Despite the threats to his safety, Pannun remains committed to advocating for the Khalistan movement, which he insists seeks a peaceful resolution.

He has been conducting independent referendums in the US, Canada, and Europe, aiming to galvanize support for the creation of Khalistan, demonstrating his determination to continue this struggle in the face of adversity.