Categories: World

Canadian court rejects plea of two Khalistani terrorists to be taken off no-fly list

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The Canadian Federal Court has rejected the appeal of two Punjabi emigrants known to be Khalistani "terrorists" who wanted to be taken off the no-fly list pleading innocence.</p>
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Brampton-based, Bhagat Singh Brar (Baggu Brar) son of Lakhbir Singh Rode, the Pakistan-based chief of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), and Parvkar Singh Dulai who runs Sanjh Punjabi TV and lives in Surrey, Vancouver, BC, were put on the no-fly list in March 2018 based on a report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) which suspected them to be terrorists. Both are business partners, too.</p>
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On Thursday, the Federal Court judge Justice Simon Noel upheld the constitutionality of Canada's no-fly list designed to stop suspected terrorists from boarding an airplane and termed the action of the government taken under the Secure Air Travel Act, against the two as "reasonable."</p>
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The judge noted "Brar is the son of Lakhhbir Brar (Rode) who is a leader of ISYF designated as a terrorist group in Canada. Dulai is a very vocal supporter of Khalistan, a Sikh separatist movement…He is known to organise a parade that included a tribute to a man involved in the 1985 Air India (Kanishka) bombing that killed 329 passengers on board."</p>
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The judge relied on documents placed before the court by the government agencies declaring the two to be "facilitators of terrorist-related activities."</p>
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The court upheld the decision of the government which felt there were reasonable grounds to suspect that they would either engage or attempt to engage in an act that would threaten transportation or travel by air to commit a terrorism offense. </p>
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Both Brar and Dulai claimed that they were not involved in any terrorist activity and did not face any cases in Canada or outside.</p>
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In 2018 the then Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh handed over a list of 9 active Khalistani operatives to the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The list included the names of Brar and Dulai.</p>
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According to Punjab police, Parvkar Singh Dulai aka Parry Dulai is an ISYF activist. He is a frequent visitor to Pakistan and remains in touch with India's most wanted Pak-based terrorist, Ranjeet Neeta. He is also in constant touch with known Canadian Sikh extremists Gurjeet Singh Cheema, and Gurpreet Singh Sahota.</p>
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The Punjab police maintain that Dulai is a terror facilitator who raises funds, organises weapon training camps, and recruits youth for terrorist activities in India.</p>
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Baggu Brar works in cahoots with India's designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Nijjar is based in Surrey, Vancouver. In 2017, he arranged weapons with the help of Pak-based Rode, and Harmeet Ph.D. for carrying out targeted killings in India.</p>
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Surprisingly, Baggu Brar and Parry Dulai are closely associated with the management of Gurdwaras in Canada where they find a ready platform to address religious gatherings on Gurpurabs. Otherwise, not many would come to listen to their vitriolic speeches spreading hatred against people of other religions.</p>
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Canadian Punjabi media journalists told Indianarrative.com that the Khalistanis were a divided house there as they suspect each other to be working in liaison with Indian agencies. It is a common refrain to hear among pro-Khalistan activists that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a proscribed organisation, is a RAW agent.</p>

Rajinder S Taggar

Guest writer

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