The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have issued "duty to warn" letters to two Canadian Sikh activists, Inderjeet Singh Gosal and Manjinder Singh, informing them that their lives are under serious threat due to their involvement in advocating for an independent Sikh state in India, known as Khalistan. The letters indicate credible and imminent threats but provide few details about the nature of these threats. The police have stated that although there is no threat to the activists' families or friends, those close to them could be endangered during any attempt on their lives.
Inderjeet Singh Gosal, based in Caledon, Ontario, serves as the Canadian coordinator for non-binding referendums conducted in Sikh communities globally, seeking public opinion on the desire for Khalistan. In an interview, Gosal emphasized that the movement is intended to be peaceful and strictly denounces violence. He remains undeterred by the threats and plans to proceed with the next referendum scheduled for October in Edmonton. Gosal stated, "For me to stop doing what I’m doing, which is impossible, the threats are going to come," emphasizing his commitment to the cause despite the risks involved.
The police letters directed to both men requested that they confirm their understanding of the situation, highlighting the need for personal safety precautions. Gosal acknowledged that he has received multiple warnings since taking on his organizing role and has been offered police protection, which he has consistently declined. "I will continue to do exactly what Hardeep Singh Nijjar did," he said, alluding to the previous Canadian organizer who was assassinated in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia, in a killing alleged to have connections to organized crime groups in India.
The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, linked to India-based criminal networks, created a significant diplomatic rift between Canada and India, aggravated by accusations from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who indicated that "agents of the Indian government" were involved in Nijjar's death. This led to both nations expelling diplomats as tensions rose. Meanwhile, current Prime Minister Mark Carney has reached out to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognizing India’s importance within the global economy and supply chains.
The group organizing the referendums, Sikhs for Justice, revealed that another organizer in British Columbia had received a verbal warning from Canadian police. Although the RCMP has not publicly confirmed the threats or warnings, the overall climate of fear intensified following Nijjar's murder, making the actions of Gosal and Singh particularly precarious.
While police have offered protection options to Gosal, he reiterated his determination to remain active in the campaign, stating, "And if the bullet is the ending for me, I’m glad to take that bullet. But nothing will stop me from this campaign." This steadfastness highlights the complexities surrounding the movement for Khalistan and the associated risks that its leaders face in advocating for their cause.
