In the last week of November 2023, Biden Administration has unearthed a plot to kill Sikh leaders in United States. Earlier US intelligence provided secret information to Canadian Government about killing of Hardeep Singh Nijar, who was killed in Canada in June 2023. In connection with killing of prominent Sikh leaders, who are linked with independence movement of Khalistan, Indian RAW has undertaken a wider planning. This planning include posting of RAW agents in the Indian Embassies of various European states, United States and Canada, where there is presence of Sikhs community. It is worth mentioning that, there was a massive migration of the Sikhs after Indian Government launched a military operation for the genocide of Sikhs following the killing of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Ghandi.
As per US prosecutors, an agent of Indian RAW has been traced who planned to assassinate Sikh leaders in US. This RAW agent, an Indian government official plotted to assassinate Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. As per US media, “A foiled plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York, just days after another activist’s killing, was meant to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada.”The US intelligence confirmed that, along with Hardeep Singh Nijar, RAW agents had planned to kill at least four prominent Sikh leaders in June, 2023.
Nevertheless, US spying network foiled these killings in US and informed Canadian Government to take necessary measures for the protection of Sikh leaders.As disclosed by British newspaper, the target this time was Mr Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, General Counsel’ of the “Sikhs for Justice” Movement. Indian Government is annoyed with him since he along with thousands of workers is working for Independent Khalistan. Moreover, he asked all Sikhs not to travel by Air India. He was wanted by infamous India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).Earlier, killing of Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil has attracted international attention and deep anger of Sikh community. Indeed, he was killed by RAW through secretive means, since was an advocate of an independent state for Sikh community; Khalistan as a separate homeland for Sikhs. He along with many others was working for the internationalization of Khalistan Movement.
The movement started in 1990s, just few years after the massive genocide of Sikh community in secular India. The Sikh community was massively killed by Hindus and state machinery of India to the level of genocide after two Sikh security guards killed former Indian Prime Minister Ms Indira Ghandi on October 31, 1984. Despite massive persecution of Sikhs in India, they decided not to surrender to Indian military might. Rather, they formally organized them and decided to have their own homeland, thus started political and social struggle for their right of self-determination. While there was an on-going Sikhs movement against Hindu rule in India, the Sikh Diaspora has devised wider strategy of pursuing international community to recognize their right of self-determination by having their own homeland with the name of Khalistan. In order to achieve their legal right, over the years Sikhs have transformed their movement at Global level.
For a global coverage and international recognition, the Sikh Diaspora has decided to organize Referendum in all countries where ever there is a presence of Sikhs. So far, there have been dozen of phases of referendum for a separate Sikh homeland (Khalistan). This referendum was conducted in various cities of the Britain having Sikh Diaspora. The referendum for a separate Sikh homeland started from London on October 31, 2021 with participation of over 30,000 Sikhs. All Indian attempts to stop Sikh referendum exercise in Britain and other western world failed miserably, despite good diplomatic relationship between India and these countries. The movement for the Khalistan referendum had sent a strong message to India to accept the Sikh’s long-awaited demand for a separate home-land and to put an end to discrimination against Sikhs.
The US based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation has already mobilized its-self for the conduct of Referendum in US with the sole objective of a separate homeland for Sikh with the name of Khalistan. Indeed, Sikh’s Referendum for their independent homeland; Khalistan had entered into its conclusive stage which India could not digest and planned the killing of Sikh leaders all over the globe. Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 was in fact, the beginning of this nefarious Indian campaign. The right to self-determination is ingrained in international law, including Charter of the United Nations.
United States and Canadian Government have taken very serious action against the plot of killing prominent Sikh leaders in their countries. US intelligence officials have visited New Delhi with solid proofs that, Indian RAW is involved in the killing and plot of killing the Sikh leaders in US, Canada and in European states. On their part, Sikh community is of the view that, international community should support them in their right of self-determination since Sikhs have principally decided to have their own Home Land in the form of Khalistan. In their struggle they need support of all major powers, UN and international community. Besides, Sikhs demand from international community. Besides, they demand that, their leaders and diaspora should be given security and protection by host countries against the covert operation of RAW. This infamous Indian spying network is targeting Sikhs worldwide.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
