Pro-Khalistan Sikhs gathered in significant numbers at Indian Consulates in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and San Francisco to demand the expulsion of Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma. The protesters also sought justice for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader who was killed in Canada, allegedly by Indian state agents.

The rally took place after Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other Sikh organizations announced the closure of these consulates in protest against the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was a leader of the Khalistan Referendum movement.

Demonstrators at the protests carried placards demanding justice for Nijjar, the establishment of Khalistan, and the expulsion of Indian High Commissioner Verma. They praised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for confronting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accusing India of sponsoring state terrorism against Sikh activists.

The protesters also condemned threatening calls from India, including calls to “nuke Canada” and “eliminate” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs For Justice. These threats were made in the Indian Parliament and on Indian nationalist media platforms.

In a live debate on Republic Bharat, an Indian television channel, Rajiv Arora, an Indo-Canadian Hindu, participated in a discussion where open calls to “Nuke Canada” were made, and Prime Minister Trudeau was labeled a terrorist for holding Indian agents responsible for Nijjar’s assassination on Canadian soil.

On the floor of the Indian Parliament, MP Ravneet Singh Bittu condoned India’s act of assassinating Nijjar and called for a “surgical strike” in Canada to eliminate Pannun.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, General Counsel of SFJ, responded to these developments, expressing concerns about the alleged involvement of the Modi government in acts of terrorism in Canada. He emphasized the need for Canadian political leaders to address these threats to Canadian sovereignty.

Pannun called on the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Conservative Party of Canada to respond to the threats posed by India and Indo-Canadian Hindus, citing the challenges to Canadian sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.

Notably, INTERPOL rejected India’s request for a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Pannun, stating that there was no evidence linking him to acts of violence or terrorism. INTERPOL noted that the RCN against Pannun was sought by India due to his human rights and political activism, particularly his involvement in the Khalistan Referendum.

SFJ, in collaboration with the Punjab Referendum Commission, announced Khalistan Referendum-II Voting in Surrey, BC, on October 29, allowing thousands who could not vote on September 10 to participate. The center for the upcoming voting in Surrey is dedicated to “Shaheed Hardeep Singh Nijjar.”