A fresh controversy has emerged in the backdrop of already fragile India-Canada relations after the US-based Khalistani separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued a provocative call for action. The banned group, which has a long history of anti-India rhetoric, has announced a 12-hour siege of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on September 18. The protest has been framed as a response to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Heightening the tension further, SFJ circulated a poster placing Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, in the crosshairs and branding him as the “new face of Hindutva terror in Canada.”
In its statement, SFJ alleged that Indian missions in Canada were secretly running surveillance operations against Khalistan supporters. The group claimed the planned siege would act as a “symbolic protest” against what it called “state-sponsored espionage and intimidation.” Referring to Nijjar as a “shaheed” (martyr), SFJ urged pro-Khalistan Sikhs to mobilize in large numbers, declaring that the demonstration would be a historic moment of resistance and accountability. However, intelligence assessments suggest that Nijjar’s killing was most likely the outcome of gang rivalries among Sikh groups in Canada rather than a state-backed operation, exposing contradictions in SFJ’s narrative.
The issue is especially sensitive because Nijjar’s assassination had already triggered one of the worst diplomatic crises between India and Canada. In September 2023, then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of having potential links to Nijjar’s killing, citing what he termed “credible allegations.” India strongly rejected these claims, calling them baseless and politically motivated, while also accusing Canada of turning a blind eye to extremist activities thriving on its soil. The fallout was immediate, leading to the expulsion of diplomats from both sides and even a temporary suspension of Indian visa services in Canada. Months later, Trudeau himself admitted that he lacked concrete evidence, clarifying that his earlier statement was based on unverified intelligence inputs.
In recent months, both nations had started cautiously rebuilding their diplomatic engagement. After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in June 2025, both governments appointed new high commissioners, signaling an intent to normalize ties. However, SFJ’s latest threat now poses a serious obstacle to this reset, potentially derailing the fragile progress made so far.
Further complicating matters, SFJ has claimed that one of its leaders, Inderjeet Gosal, had to be placed under witness protection by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) due to alleged pressure from Indian intelligence agencies. While these claims remain unverified, they add fuel to the outfit’s larger narrative of portraying India as an aggressor on Canadian soil.
The announced siege has put the Canadian government in a challenging position. On one hand, it must uphold democratic values, including the right to peaceful protest. On the other hand, it bears the responsibility of ensuring the security of foreign diplomats and preventing extremist threats from escalating. How Ottawa handles this protest will be closely watched, as it will not only determine the safety of Indian officials in Canada but also influence the trajectory of already delicate India-Canada relations in the coming months.
