Indian origin Canadian MP warns of looming Khalistani threat, says country must be alert to “snakes in its backyard”

Warning about ever increasing threat from Khalistanis in Canada, an Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya has said it’s matter of time that they will bite to kill. Hailing from Karnataka, Arya belongs to the Liberal Party and represents the Nepean constituency in Ontario province.

Condemning provocative pro-Khalistani posters targeting senior Indian diplomats, Arya said that it was good to see Canadian authorities finally waking up to danger looming in their backyard. Canada has assured India of the safety of its diplomats, a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to “extremist Khalistani ideology” as it is “not good” for relations.

“Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach a new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate. Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against India diplomats. While it is good to see Canadian authorities are noticing, we should note the snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing. It is only a question of time when they bite to kill”, Arya tweeted.

The concerned Khalistani poster has sparked outrage across India by calling India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava as “killers” of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot dead in Canada in June in suspected gangwar, though Khalistanis blame India for the same. With no concrete steps from the Canadian government India summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi on Monday and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

It is learnt that India has also asked the Canadian authorities to take appropriate measures in view of planned protests by pro-Khalistan groups outside Indian missions in Canada on July 8.

The Canadian law enforcement agencies meanwhile have been on alert as an Indian origin gangster was gunned down today. Though no links of the deceased Karanvir Singh Garcha have so far been established with any Khalistani outfit but probe is still on. Garcha, 25, was fatally shot at a condo complex in the province of British Columbia on Sunday who later succumbed to injuries according to Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). Preliminary investigations revealed targeted shooting related to the ongoing gang conflict as 28-year-old Amarpreet ‘Chucky’ Samra in a similar way was allegedly shot dead outside a banquet hall in Vancouver on May 28 this year.

“We are looking to speak with anyone who had contact with Garcha in the days leading up to the shooting, including the driver of the vehicle that dropped him off at a condo complex,” IHIT’s Timothy Pierotti said. It may be noted that in December last year, Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police had issued a public safety warning for Garcha, and 22-year-old Harkirat Jhutty– the two Indo-Canadian men allegedly involved in gang activities.

Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted police in a release said “Due to their association with gang activity, the drug trade, and violent acts such as shootings, these individuals have put themselves, their families, and the community at risk.”

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On the backfoot after Nijjar’s killing, Khalistanis now spread their poster war in the UK against Indian diplomats