Will Canada bar anti-India truck rally planned by Khalistani group?

The Justin Trudeau government in Canada is facing an unenviable situation as the Sikhs For Justice, an outfit that is banned in India, have announced to take out a car and truck rally on October 29 to motivate people to participate in the second leg of the so-called Khalistan Referendum 2020, slated for November 6 in Mississauga city. The voting for the so-called referendum’s first leg was held on September 18.

New Delhi has been pressing hard that Canadian land and infrastructure should not be allowed to be used for anti-India activities. Otherwise, it will be considered an unfriendly and even a hostile act. The diplomatic relations between the two countries hit rock bottom over the last few months especially, when the so-called referendum was held in Brampton unhindered. Public properties were allowed to be used by Khalistanis to advertise the anti-India event despite objections raised by pro-India groups.

Punjabi media in Canada revealed that the Peel police of Toronto fear that since the rally is to pass through some areas inhabited by pro-India youths, mainly students, there can be a confrontation between the two groups, as witnessed on Diwali night in Westwood Mall Square, Mississauga.

Anticipating trouble, the Peel police are learnt to be upgrading a police post near College Plaza in Sheridan to a full-fledged police station, active 24 hours. There have been instances in this area where two groups of students have clashed.

The Indian government had warned the Trudeau administration that the unchecked activities of the Khalistanis would cause a rift in the Indian student community and  there was the danger of violence erupting on the issue.

These fears have turned out to be true and it now remains to be seen whether the Canadian authorities will take any action to ban the anti-India rally.

The Trudeau administration will be, once again asked on October 29 the rally day, to declare the Delhi riots of 1984 that started on October 31st – when Indira Gandhi was assassinated – and continued mainly for three days, as genocide of the Sikhs. The Canadian government has been resisting this demand for many years.

The SFJ has announced plans to hold a prayer meeting near the Canadian parliament in Ottawa on November 1 in memory of those killed in riots in India. Prayers will also be orgainsed in various Gurdwaras in which local politicians, including Whites, usually participate. Prime Minister Trudeau previously, has been issuing a statement expressing his sadness about the killings of Sikhs post-Indira Gandhi assassination.

It remains to be seen whether the Canadian government accepts the demand on genocide, the immediate big issue at hand is its response to the proposed car-truck rally by the Khalistanis programmed to start from Malton passing through Mississauga and Brampton cities of the Ontario state of Canada.