00:00I've spoken directly with Prime Minister Modi, work with us to fix this.
00:10We don't want to be having this fight.
00:12The relationship between India and Canada has recently become strained,
00:17particularly following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani activist in Canada.
00:23Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly accused Indian agents
00:28of being involved in Nijjar's assassination, triggering a diplomatic standoff between the two nations.
00:35India has denied these claims, demanding evidence,
00:38while both countries have expelled each other's diplomats, heightening tension further.
00:44Compounding the issue is the involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi, an infamous Indian gangster,
00:49whose gang has been linked to violent acts both in Canada and India.
00:55The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, have accused Indian government agents
01:00of collaborating with Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani activists,
01:05adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
01:10At the heart of these tensions lies the Khalistan movement,
01:14which advocates for a separate sovereign Sikh state in present-day Punjab, spanning both India and Pakistan.
01:22This movement began gaining momentum in the aftermath of India's partition in 1947,
01:29when many Sikhs felt their interests were overlooked in the predominantly Hindu nation.
01:35The Akali Dal, a Sikh political party, has historically supported this idea,
01:40pushing for a theocratic state of Khalistan.
01:43Though the movement has faced a major crackdown in India,
01:47following events like Operation Blue Star and Operation Black Thunder,
01:51it has continued to inspire part of Sikhs' diaspora,
01:55particularly in countries like Canada, the UK and Australia.
01:59For many Sikhs, the Khalistan movement represents a quest for justice and self-determination
02:06in the face of perceived marginalization within India.
02:11Conversely, the Indian government views the movement as a threat to national security,
02:17often associating it with terrorism and violent separatism.
02:21Over the years, India has invested heavily in countering Khalistani sympathies abroad,
02:27especially in nations with large Sikh populations.
02:31Canada, with its significant Sikh community, has become a focal point of this dynamic.
02:37The Sikh community in Canada has grown into a significant political force,
02:43which often support pro-Khalistani candidates,
02:46influencing local politics and contributing to the complexities of Indian-Canada relations.
02:52The recent accusations surrounding the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
02:57have only deepened this divide,
02:59with Trudeau asserting that Canadian officials have attempted to collaborate with Indian on security issues,
03:05only to be met with denial and personal attack from Indian officials.
03:10India, on the other hand, insists that Canada has not taken sufficient measure
03:15to control pro-Khalistani activities within its borders.
03:19The Canadian government's allegations against India became more complex
03:24when the RCMP implicated the Lawrence-Bishnoi gang in targeting Khalistani supporters.
03:30This connection has added a criminal dimension to the political tension,
03:35with the RCMP accusing Indian agents of collaborating with Bishnoi gang
03:40to carry out violent acts and intimidate pro-Khalistani individuals within Canada.
03:45Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster currently incarcerated in India's Sabarmati Jail,
03:51has gained widespread notoriety for orchestrating violent acts,
03:56including the high-profile murder of Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala in the year 2022
04:02and more recently the assassination of Baba Siddiqui, a former minister from Maharashtra.
04:08The Bishnoi gang's activities have expanded beyond India,
04:12establishing a presence within the Southern Asian community in Canada.
04:17The RCMP claims that the Bishnoi gang has been involved in collecting intelligence
04:23on members of the South Asian community in Canada, allegedly at the behest of Indian agents.
04:30This information is reportedly used to target and intimidate individuals supporting the Khalistani movement.
04:37Despite the seriousness of these allegations,
04:40Canada has not yet provided concrete evidence to back these claims,
04:44which has prompted India to reject the acquisition outright.
04:49The escalating tension between India and Canada over the Khalistan issue and organized crime
04:55leave many questions about the future of their relationship.
04:59As both nations remain entrenched in their positions,
05:03with each side demanding evidence and accountability in the path forward appear uncertain.
05:09While Canada has reiterated its commitment to investigating the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar,
05:15India continues to deny any involvement and urges Canada to clamp down on pro-Khalistani activities.
05:29Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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