AMRITSAR: While expressing concern over support to Khalistani extremism on its soil, the Canadian government has put two Sikh organisations Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation on its watch list and have also included the component of Sikh (Khalisani) extremism in its 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada.

“Some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements. This political movement aims to create an independent homeland for Sikhs called Khalistan, in India. Violent activities in support of an independent Sikh homeland have fallen since their height during the 1982-1993 period when individuals and groups conducted numerous terrorist attacks” reads the report.

The report also mentions of 1985 Air India flight Toronto-Montreal-London-Delhi bombing , it says the 1985 Air India bombing by Khalistani terrorists, which killed 331 people, remains the deadliest terrorist plot ever launched in Canada” adding “ While attacks around the world in support of this movement have declined, support for the extreme ideologies of such groups remains.

The two key Sikh organisations, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation in Canada had been identified as being associated with terrorism and remain listed terrorist entities under the criminal code, reads the report.

Besides Sikh (Khalistan) extremism, the report mentions about Right Wing extremism, Shia extremism etc. The reports also read that Shia and Sikh (Khalistani) extremism also remain of concern because while their attacks in Canada have been extremely limited.

” Some Canadians continue to support these extremist groups, including through financing,” says the report.

Notably, posters, banners and flags of Khalistan and Sikh militants including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale are common sight during Sikh parade ’s and religious functions held in Canada on different occasions with many of Sikh leaders in Canada openly extend support to Khalistan movement which has even strained the Indo Canadian relationship, the cold-shouldering of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in India was an indication of New Delhi’s annoyance with Canadian government ministers who have extended support to the forces who are bent upon breaking India and reviving militancy in Punjab.

Reacting to the report The World Sikh Organisation of Canada President Mukhbir Singh said “it is deeply disappointing to see the addition of imagined “Sikh extremism” to the 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada”. He said the Sikhs in Canada had repeatedly denied these allegations and no evidence had ever been provided to substantiate them. “Advocacy for Sikh human rights or Khalistan is not extremism and to suggest that it poses a danger to Canada is absolutely ludicrous” he added.