User:Southasianhistorian8/Sikh extremism in Canada

Ujjal Dosanjh

Tara Singh Hayer

Jaspal Atwal

Talwinder Singh Parmar, a Sikh terrorist and mastermind of the Air India bombing, had a significant base of operations in Canada. Pamar arrived in Canada in 1970, and acquired Canadian citizenship in 1976. Here, he preached Sikh fundamentalism, raised money, partially through fundraising in Sikh temples, which he sent to hijackers in India, plotted bombings and assassinations, and made public pledges to kill Hindus, swearing that "Indian planes will from the sky". Despite Parmar attempting to conceal his clandestine activities, the CSIS had wiretapped his home phone and arrested him twice, once for possessing explosives and later for plotting to blow up the Indian Parliament.

An associate of Parmar and a fellow militant, Lal Singh, had absconded to Canada from the United States after the FBI foiled an assassination attempt by Sikh terrorists to assassinate then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, as well Haryana's Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal. The FBI's affidavit further claimed that Lal Singh, among two other militants, conspired to wage a military expedition against India, receive explosives and machine guns, and solicited another individual to kill Rajiv Gandhi. One of Lal Singh's associates, Satinderpal Singh Gill, based in British Columbia, was in contact with ISI agents and Pakistani militants providing support to the Khalistan movement, and a senior figure in the International Sikh Youth Federation (an organization banned and labelled a terrorist organization by the Canadian government). Gill also held considerable influence in a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

Terry Milewski describes Canada as a country which offers a favourable legal and political environment for Khalistani militants. In 1982, Canada had refused India's request to extradite Parmar for murder (expand), believing India to be insufficiently respectful to Queen Elizabeth II, and claimed that normal extradition protocols were only in effect for countries who recognized the Queen as Head of the State, instead India recognized the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. Mileswki posits that Canadian politicians, hoping to gain votes and donations from the considerable Canadian Sikh community, acquiesce to Sikh extremists and their actions, further emboldening and facilitating Khalistanis to normalize the celebration of violent Sikh militants. He cites a October 31, 2002, issue of the Sanjh Savera, then a weekly operating in Toronto, which celebrated the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, labelling the assassins as "martyrs" worthy of honouring. The lack of outcry from Canadian politicians along with the government providing Savera with advertising funds, allowing it to grow into a daily, and the 2005 acquittals of various individuals in the Air India bombing, he claims, are evidence of Khalistanis gaining political traction in Canada.

In 2007, a Vaisakhi parade held in Surrey, British Columbia, had numerous floats with "provocative displays" of various assassins, along with Talwinder Singh Parmar. As the parade was held near the 2008 federal election, numerous politicians from all parties, made an appearance. On stage, they were greeted by Parmar's son, along with Satinderpal Singh Gill of the ISYF, and Pary Dulai, who associated himself with the Babbar Khalsa (another organization listed on Public Safety Canada's Listed Terrorist Entities). Controversy soon erupted, and Premier Gordon Campbell initially stated that "there was no problem and that he would attend the parade again in future years", but later issued a statement claiming to be upset at the posters. Conservative MP, Jim Gordon, initially claimed to be "flabbergasted" over the laudation of Parmar, but after consulting with the party's headquarters, condemned the CBC, alleging that they depicted the event in a negative light by associating it with terrorists within the Sikh community. Liberal MP, Sukh Dhaliwal, when questioned about the posters, said "I don't know why we're making such a fuss about Surrey" and NDP MP stated that she did not regret attending the parade. Milewski believes this event to be "decisive" in "expanding the boundaries of what is acceptable in Canada".

In 2012, Sikh separatists organized a demonstration in Ottawa to demand clemency for Balwant Singh Rajona, a man who confessed to directing a bomb blast in 1995 which claimed the lives of Punjab's Chief Minister, Beant Singh, and 17 other bystanders; Rajoana designated himself as the backup suicide bomber, was later convicted, and sentenced to death, with his execution scheduled for March 2012 (his execution was stayed following clemency appeals from the SGPC, an apex Sikh organization). Protesters on Parliament Hill condemned the death penalty on Rajoana and proclaimed him to be a "living martyr". MPs from all major parties provided support for the demonstration.