Massive Protests Erupt Against Indian Diplomats Across Canada — Sikh Groups Rally in Ottawa, Vancouver, Surrey Despite Harsh Weather

Massive Protests Erupt Against Indian Diplomats Across Canada — Sikh Groups Rally in Ottawa, Vancouver, Surrey Despite Harsh Weather

New Delhi, November 9 (Manpreet Singh Khalsa):

Indian diplomats faced intense protests from sections of the Sikh community in multiple Canadian cities including Ottawa, Vancouver, Surrey, and Abbotsford, as they conducted outreach programs to distribute life certificates. The demonstrations, organized largely by pro-Khalistan groups and supporters of the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar, drew significant crowds despite police barricades and severe weather conditions.

As soon as news spread about the visits of Indian consulate officials, protesters gathered outside venues such as Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver, Riverside Banquet Hall, and Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara in Abbotsford, raising slogans and waving placards. The demonstrators accused Indian representatives of being complicit in Nijjar’s killing and vowed to oppose them wherever they went.

Reports indicate that police were deployed at several protest sites to maintain order, yet large numbers of people continued to participate in the demonstrations. Many protesters also condemned India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who was attending the G7 meeting in Canada, and even burned effigies during the protests. In one incident, the Indian national flag was reportedly desecrated, further escalating tensions.

To contain the protests, certain gurdwara committees — accused by protesters of siding with Indian officials — reportedly obtained court orders to restrict demonstrations within a 100-metre radius of the religious sites. However, Sikh leaders alleged that these actions were an attempt to silence the community’s voice.

Leaders including Bhai Gurmeet Singh Toor, Bhai Narinder Singh Randhawa, and others from the Khalsa Diwan Society condemned the visits by Indian diplomats, calling them “representatives of Nijjar’s killers.” They asserted that protests would continue “until Indian embassies are shut down in Canada” and vowed that their movement would only end “with the achievement of Khalistan.”

The protest leaders urged the Sikh community to participate in large numbers in the upcoming Referendum phase scheduled for November 23 in Ottawa, describing it as a critical step toward asserting unity and the right to self-determination.

Prominent figures present included Avtar Singh Khaira, Manjinder Singh, Jag Singh, Rajinder Singh Natt, Ajaypal Singh, Daljit Singh, and Baba Ranjit Singh Khalsa, along with a large gathering of community members who reaffirmed their commitment to the cause despite the weather and restrictions.