B.C. Sikh community responds to new allegations of Indian foreign interference

The RCMP's commissioner said Monday Mounties had evidence of violent criminal activity in Canada, including homicides and extortion, being connected to Indian government agents.

A prominent leader in British Columbia’s Sikh community says the community feels vindicated following explosive new RCMP allegations of foreign interference by agents of the Indian government in Canada.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said Monday that the force had evidence of violent criminal activity in Canada, including homicides and extortion, being connected to Indian government agents.

The RCMP also alleged it has evidence of diplomats collecting information on Canadians for the Indian government, and said there was a significant threat to public safety.

Police took the unusual step one year after the federal government alleged a connection between the government of India and the assassination of B.C. gurdwara president and Khalistan independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Members of the Sikh community in B.C. have long alleged they’re being targeted by the Indian government, and say Monday’s revelations serve as further proof.

“Individuals like myself have had multiple duty to warn (notices) against my life as well, so I can say this from a personal space as well as from a community leader space, is that it is shocking to us that this could be allowed to continue now,” B.C. Gurdwaras Council spokesperson Moninder Singh told Global News.

“Harder steps by the Canadian government against India is what we want to see. So while these individuals have left, how do we avoid this situation in the future?”

Four men linked to organized crime have been charged in Nijjar’s killing. Monday’s update from the RCMP has shed further light on the case, with the investigation linking senior Indian diplomats in Canada, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, to criminal gangs operating in Canada.