Much water has flown since the Japanese ship Komagata Maru, carrying Sikhs, was denied landing in British Columbia in 1914 and was returned, causing a riot and many deaths. Canada was admitting nearly 400,000 migrants, almost exclusively from Europe. The first significant Sikh settlers were between 1904-08, numbering about 5000, who were captivated by the huge forestry and agricultural tracts of land.
They soon made a name for themselves, with lesser wages and higher productivity as compared to other migrants, particularly the Chinese; the latter were levied a head tax of $500.00. The tryst between Canada and the Sikhs grew by leaps and bounds as they built huge Gurudwaras and became the most relied-upon long-haul drivers.
If there is anything that changed the profile of the migrant Sikh community in Canada, it is the Khalistan Movement in India following the dismantling of the terror modules from inside the golden temple and the killing of Bhindranwale in a daring operation called Bluestar. Indira Gandhi was killed in a revenge killing by her bodyguards, and a mayhem followed against the Sikhs in India, with many youths facing ‘encounter’ deaths and fleeing to Canada.
Canada admitted most, including the controversial Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who landed with a fake passport and was denied entry but mysteriously became a citizen of Canada. Nijjar was designated as a terrorist in India but was under the protection of Trudeau. Four months ago,Nijjar was killed in a gangland war in Canada.
The fallout with Pierre Trudeau (Justin’s father) began when the then government refused to hand over the Air-India Kanishka bombing in 1985, which killed 329 people. Justin Trudeau offered him parole. Trudeau visited India in 2018 for well over a week, when the government completely shunned him. He had disparagingly included in his entourage the Sikh separatist leader Jaspal Atwal.
Canada, under the guise of freedom of expression, has allowed floats, deifying the killing of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards. Banners demanding the killing of Indian consular officials adorn Gurudwaras. Vandalizing Hindu temples is largely ignored. Khalistan terrorists often exhort to eliminate Indian leaders, with Modi heading the list. The latest is the threat to the Canadian Hindus to quit Canada. Trudeau’s popularity has plummeted like never before. His coalition hands on a thread dangled by the Sikhs, who have infiltrated many important positions, including defence.
Eliminating terrorists is nothing new. Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Istanbul when Biden promised to make Saudi Arabia a pariah state. Obama killed Osama bin Laden. His predecessors eliminated leaders around the world, like Saddam Hussain or Gaddafi, who refused to serve the interests of the U.S. It is strange that the U.S. now preaches India, which has vehemently condemned Trudeau’s charges of India’s hand in Nijjar’s killing.
Finally, Trudeau is clinging to a last straw for his survival, blaming India for Nijjar’s death. The murder has taken place in his country, and his inland home security by now must’ve gathered enough evidence in support of or against Trudeau’s claims. Justine Trudeau better prove his statement, which is also demanded by the Canadian opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre.
India reserves the right to enter any and every country to take on its country’s enemies, notified terrorists, if they are given refuge by others.
Jai Hind
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
