OTTAWA — The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has expressed deep disappointment regarding recent comments made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his diplomatic visit to New Delhi. In a written statement, a copy of which is available with the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN), the prominent advocacy group questioned the Canadian government’s stance following PM Carney’s joint appearance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Standing alongside his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Carney declared, “We are one family,” and extended an invitation for PM Modi to visit Canada. The remark prompted a sharp and immediate response from the WSO.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi During a joint appearance in New Delhi.
“If Prime Minister Carney considers the Government of India part of Canada’s ‘family,’ Sikh Canadians are left wondering where we fit in that definition,” the organization stated in its release.
The Prime Minister’s comments come amid heightened tensions and explosive allegations. A recent report by The Globe and Mail revealed that officials operating out of the Indian consulate in Vancouver allegedly gathered intelligence that facilitated the assassination plot against Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. According to the report, this intelligence was passed to operatives connected to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and the operation has been linked to RAW officer Vikash Yadav, who has also been named in a U.S. indictment regarding a separate assassination plot.
Amidst these serious developments, the WSO noted that PM Carney has refused to take questions from Canadian journalists during his trip to India. His first scheduled press conference was abruptly cancelled, leaving Canadians with no opportunity to hear his response to the allegations.
The WSO release also highlighted conflicting narratives within the Canadian government. While a senior government official recently claimed that India is no longer linked to violent crimes and transnational repression in Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has reportedly refuted this, confirming that India remains a primary perpetrator of foreign interference and espionage against Canada.
Meanwhile, India continues to deny any involvement. Over the weekend, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, insisted that interference by Indian officials “never happened.”
WSO President Danish Singh issued a strong rebuke of the diplomatic optics. “Families do not assassinate, extort, or intimidate one another,” Singh stated. “We do not consider those accused of directing violence and transnational repression against our community, including individuals publicly named by Canadian officials, such as India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, to be members of our family.”
Singh further questioned the efficacy of the ongoing diplomatic talks between the two nations. After eight months of what has been termed “high-level dialogue,” the WSO points to the emergence of new evidence linking Indian officials to the assassination of a Canadian citizen, persistent denials from New Delhi, and ongoing police warnings issued to Sikh activists and their families in Canada.
“What has this engagement achieved? From the community’s perspective, things have gotten worse, not better,” Singh added.
The WSO concluded its statement by urging Prime Minister Carney to “immediately address Canadians and clearly explain what accountability has been secured from India, if any,” warning that the Prime Minister “cannot indefinitely avoid answering these questions.