Sagarika Mitra, JAN KI BAAT Content Head explains
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is yet to provide ‘evidence’ to India and the world about the allegations he made regarding the ‘potential link’ of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India since 2014 has been providing credible inputs, dossiers and evidence to Canada about Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s terrorist antecedents. From his meeting with KTF Chief Jagtar Singh Tara in Pakistan to him running an arms training terror camp in Canada – India’s intel was always ignored by Canadian authorities.
Sources in the security establishment tell JAN KI BAAT that for years, India tirelessly sounded the alarm on Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a name synonymous with Khalistani extremism, terror funding, and anti-India activities. In a concerning pattern, India consistently informed Canadian authorities about Nijjar’s activities on their soil, only to be met with silence and inaction.
The saga began in 2012 when Nijjar established close ties with Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara, who headed the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
In the same year, Nijjar traveled to Pakistan under the guise of a Baisakhi Jatha member, attending a fortnight-long arms and explosives training program. Upon his return to Canada, he embarked on a sinister path, raising funds for terror activities through associates involved in drug and arms smuggling within Canada. It was a blatant violation of Canadian law, and yet, his activities continued unchecked & unabated.
As per sources, the year 2014 witnessed significant developments. Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Nijjar, putting the world on notice about his involvement in terror activities. Moreover, Indian agencies conveyed to the Canadian government that Nijjar faced over a dozen criminal cases in India, including murder and terrorist activities. The evidence was compelling, yet Canada’s response was puzzling.
Instead of taking decisive action, he found himself on a NO FLY LIST, an action that hardly seemed commensurate with the gravity of his activities. Canada allowed Hardeep Singh Nijjar to operate freely within its borders instead.
In the same year, Nijjar’s sinister plans came to light when he plotted a terror attack on the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana’s Hisar. Fortunately, he was denied a visa to India, thwarting his sinister intentions. Yet, the question remains – How did a person with known terror links even get the opportunity to hatch such nefarious plans on Canadian soil?
Emboldened by the inaction of Canada, the year 2016 marked a significant escalation of his activities. Nijjar, along with Jagtar Singh Tara’s support, allegedly began imparting arms training to radicalized Sikh youth in British Columbia, raising concerns about the safety and security of Canada itself. This input was given to Canada with Nijjar’s photographs and details and yet he was given a free run on Canadian soil.
It wasn’t until 2020 that the Government of India officially declared Hardeep Singh Nijjar a terrorist, a designation that should have prompted immediate action by Canada.
The key question remains – How did Nijjar, a man associated with Khalistani terrorists since the late ’80s and early ’90s, manage to escape to Canada on a forged passport in 1996 after his name surfaced in terrorism cases in Punjab? How did he end up getting citizenship in Canada despite his criminal record in India and his illegal attempts to gain citizenship in Canada? Who put pressure on Canadian authorities to grant Hardeep Singh Nijjar citizenship?
India’s consistent efforts to keep Canada informed about Nijjar’s anti-India activities and terror links went unanswered for years. Instead of escalating the diplomatic war with India over Nijjar’s killing, it’s high time for Canada to accept that in the name of ‘free speech and freedom of expression’, it has been enabling Khalistani terrorists to carry out anti India activities from its soil.
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