Khalistan Extremism in Canada
The movement for Khalistan, a proposed Sikh state to be carved out of India, has a vocal following in Canada. This series documents its public face from 2023 to 2026. That includes rallies outside Indian consulates, convoys in Edmonton and Vancouver, and a Calgary Nagar Kirtan featuring banners honouring Air India bombing suspect Talwinder Singh Parmar. It also covers unofficial "referendums" run by Sikhs for Justice, a group India designates as a terrorist organization, including one scheduled in Edmonton for October 18, 2026. The series includes confrontations with Hindu Canadians outside temples, police responses and an interview with Santokh Singh Khela, whose 1987 terrorism conviction was later overturned. It also includes a 2025 Vancouver rally where, by our account, individuals wearing Babbar Khalsa insignia attempted an ambush. Many Sikh Canadians reject the movement, and critics featured here include former Sikhs. The World Sikh Organization series covers related institutional questions.
Timeline · oldest first
Dec 22, 2023Part 1"My Cousin Was Murdered," Ex-Sikh Claims "Khalistani Politicians" Compromised Canadian InstitutionsRai's story unfolds from the enigmatic death of his cousin in 2014, quickly ruled a suicide by the RCMP after an investigation lasting less than 24 hours.
Mar 12, 2024Part 2EXCLUSIVE: Pro-Khalistan Protesters Clash with Edmonton PoliceKhalistan supporters, armed with daggers, swords, and spears, gathered in Edmonton, Alberta to protest against India's high commissioner to Canada.
Mar 17, 2024Part 3Khalistan Supporters Rip Apart Indian Flags with Daggers and Spears in Calgary, AlbertaKhalistan supporters use their daggers, swords, and spears to rip apart Indian flags in Calgary, Alberta.
Mar 31, 2024Part 4Former Sikh Urges Khalistan Separatists Hosting Non-Binding Referendum in California to 'Grow Up'Thousands of Khalistan separatists from North America converged in Sacramento, the capital city of California, to participate in a non-binding referendum aimed at carving their own country out of India.
May 11, 2024Part 5Canadian Police Participate in Parade Glorifying Terrorists Including Talwinder Singh ParmarBilled as a "religious parade" in Calgary, Alberta, this event took on a distinctly political tone, displaying posters that accused India of assassinations and featured names and images of…
May 13, 2024Part 6Former Sikh Slams RCMP and MPs for Participating in Parade Glorifying Khalistani TerroristsAssassins, suicide bombers, and Talwinder Singh Parmar, a suspect in Canada's worst terror attack, were among those glorified as martyrs in a parade in Calgary, Alberta, in which Canadian police and politicians participated.
Jun 6, 2024Part 7Khalistan separatists gathered in front of India's consulate in Vancouver with effigies of Indira Gandhi and her Sikh bodyguards who assassinated herThe effigies of the bodyguards were depicted with weapons, and Indira Gandhi's effigy had bullet holes.
Jun 18, 2024Part 8LYNCHED: The "citizens' court" organized by pro-Khalistan group found India's PM's Effigy GuiltyImmediately after the verdict Modi's effigy was taken out of the cage and lynched. India's flag was set on fire.
Jun 24, 2024Part 9"Get Out of Here": Families of 1985 Air India Bombing Victims Confront Pro-Khalistan Activists in Vancouver"Get Out of Here:" Mourning family members of victims of the 1985 Air India bombing, Canada's deadliest terror attack, react to Khalistan separatists who came to "stand in solidarity" with them.
Jul 24, 2024Part 10Khalistan Convoy in EdmontonHundreds of vehicles made their way to Edmonton Gurdwara Millwoods to promote the July 28th “referendum” taking place in Calgary, organized by @SFJ_US_Official, explicitly dedicated to…
Sep 19, 2024Part 11Exclusive: Police Arrest Man for Taking Away Indian Flag from Khalistan Protesters in VancouverMarking the 15th month since the killing of their leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Khalistan supporters burned and tore apart the Indian flag, lynched an effigy…
Sep 23, 2024Part 121 Arrested at Khalistan Protest in NY, Flagpoles Confiscated, Protesters Forced to RelocateIn stark contrast to Canadian police enforcement, Nassau County Police in New York went as far as confiscating wooden flag poles from Khali
Nov 3, 2024Part 13Court Injunction Enforced: Vancouver Police Keep Khalistan Separatists OutWorshipers from "Shaheed" (Martyr) Hardeep Singh Nijjar's Guru Nanak Gurdwara chanted "Kill Modi politically," "Kill India economically," and "Long Live Canada" in front of a rival Gurdwara…
Nov 4, 2024Part 14Arrests Made: Khalistanis Protest in Front of Hindu Temple in Surrey, BC.Today, Sikhs for Justice organized a protest outside a Hindu place of worship, and tensions were high following a clash at another protest in Brampton, ON.
Nov 17, 2024Part 16"The government is with us," says Khalistan "referendum" organizer in New Zealand"The government is with us," said Sikhs for Justice president at yesterday's Khalistan "referendum" in Auckland, New Zealand.
Jan 26, 2025Part 17KHALISTAN: Radicalizing Children or Teaching Them to Exercise Their Freedom of Assembly?At first, I thought I was being asked not to include the children in the video, but no, it was the opposite. They want India to know that the next generation of Khalistanis are growing with determination in Canada.
Feb 2, 2025Part 18Go Back to India: Khalistanis Yell Against Canadian HindusKhalistani demonstrators call the Indian government authoritarian terrorists while telling Hindu Canadians to go back to India. Inside the event, Indians celebrate the anniversary of the Indian Constitution.
Feb 13, 2025Part 19U.S. Police Remove Khalistani “Kill Modi Politics” DemonstratorsU.S. Police removed Khalistani “Kill Modi Politics” demonstrators from the park in front of the White House, where U.S. President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi are meeting.
Feb 19, 2025Part 20Khalistani Extremism in North America: Will the U.S. Take Action?With Trump’s appointment of Kash Patel as FBI Director, proponents of the Khalistani movement anticipate an imminent crackdown on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a transnational organization based…
Apr 14, 2025Part 21"I Am Not South Asian": Hundreds of Thousands Attend Annual Vancouver Sikh ParadeScenes from yesterday’s annual Sikh festival, which reportedly drew 300,000 people in Vancouver, BC, Canada. “Kill Modi politics,” shouted a group of Khalistani protesters stationed along the parade route.
Apr 24, 2025Part 22I Interviewed the Canadian Sikh Once Sentenced to Life for a Bomb Plot: Babbar Khalsa’s Santokh Singh KhelaMr. Khela once held the distinction of being the first Canadian of Sikh faith to be sentenced for terrorism-related crimes in 1987.
Jun 10, 2025Part 23FAILED AMBUSH: Canadian Journalist Survives Terrorist-Affiliated Plot at Vancouver RallyOn June 7th in Vancouver, I was targeted in what I now believe was a coordinated ambush attempt by individuals linked to Babbar Khalsa—a listed terrorist group.
Dec 11, 2025Part 241984 Sikh Genocide? Critics Warn the Term Undermines “Real Genocides”Are the extremists who hijacked the Sikh diaspora trying to cover up their terrorism by presenting themselves as victims of a genocide and to facilitate more immigration from Punjab, India…
Apr 9, 2026Part 25Khalistani Sikh Extremists Protest Near Hindu Temples, Here’s Where They Print Their “Hate"What are the odds? Yesterday, I came across the lead truck for the Khalistan convoy, and after briefly tailing it, it led me to the business where they print their “hate” materials: a Richmond business, Infinite Signs.
- May 10, 2026Part 26Khalistan “Referendum” in Edmonton Set One Day Before Alberta’s Provincial Referendum
Tens of thousands of Sikhs have gathered for Calgary’s annual Nagar Kirtan, an event billed as “family-friendly.”
To help continue similar work, donate.
This series exists because readers fund it. Every report here took records requests, court filings, and travel. No corporate or government money is involved.