Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya recently addressed the growing issue of Khalistani extremism in Canada, emphasizing that the problem has long been recognized by the Canadian administration. Arya made it clear that Canada’s sovereignty is “sacrosanct” and any interference by foreign state actors is “unacceptable.”
In a statement shared on X on Wednesday, Arya recounted a personal experience, saying, “Two weeks back, I could safely participate in a Hindu event in Edmonton only with the protection of RCMP officers, as a group of Khalistani protesters staged a disruptive demonstration against me.”
He further highlighted that Canada has been aware of the serious threat posed by Khalistani extremism for some time. “Let me be clear. The sanctity of Canadian sovereignty is sacrosanct, and any interference by foreign state actors within Canada, in any form, is unacceptable,” Arya stated.
Chandra Arya also stressed the need for law enforcement to take the issue of Khalistani violent extremism seriously, urging action from the authorities. “Khalistani violent extremism is a Canadian problem, and the RCMP has said that the national task force is focused on investigating it. Extremism and terrorism do not recognize national borders, and I call on our law enforcement agencies to take this issue with the seriousness it deserves,” he added.
This issue arises amid strained relations between India and Canada, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year accused India of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has firmly denied these allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated,” while accusing Canada of harboring extremist and anti-India elements. Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023.
The diplomatic tensions further escalated when Canada identified India’s High Commissioner and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the investigation into Nijjar’s death.