Sikh News

Coalition of Sikh Organisations in Canada’s Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference

April 9, 2024 | By Panth-Punjab

Over the past two weeks, Canada’s Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference continues to unfold in Ottawa uncovering a body of damning evidence confirming India’s foreign interference, psyops (psychological operations), and transnational repression. 

While Sikhs around the world have known and bore the brunt of India’s nefarious activities for decades, this Public Enquiry offers a rare moment of transparency where the efforts of Sikh organisations have resulted in previously classified intelligence documents now becoming a part of the public record.

A coalition of Sikh organisations, including the WSO, OGC, and BCGC have gained standing in the Public Inquiry and have been uniquely placed to bring specific Sikh concerns and questions into the foreground of Canadian political discourse. 

This coalition of Sikh organisations have been represented by the founding editor of the Panth-Punjab Project, Prabjot Singh. Prabjot Singh’s role in the Public Inquiry as counsel for the coalition of Sikh organisations has allowed him to cross-examine public servants, security establishment officials and government representatives. This cross-examination has led to a number of explosive revelations.

During the cross-examination of Anne McGrath, the former NDP national director acknowledged Indian disinformation and intimidation campaigns, as well as the physical targeting of Sikhs, including Jagmeet Singh; “the threat against Singh was raised by a lawyer for a group of Sikh organizations granted standing at the inquiry”.

When the CSIS counter foreign interference coordinator, Bo Basler, was cross-examined he confirmed that India is second only to China in foreign inference activities in Canada, and that India’s interference is “corrosive to Canadian democratic processes” and to “regional community cohesion”.

Whilst these revelations are not significant in and of themselves for Sikhs engaged with the history and politics of Sikh struggle, they are significant in the fact of the nature of documents coming into the public domain, and in government officials having to respond to the inquires raised on behalf of the coalition of Sikh organisations.

Readers can expect a more detailed update on the Inquiry proceedings once hearings conclude on Wednesday April 10, 2024. In the meantime we draw your attention to last weeks article that outlines a view on the possibilities and limitations of such enquiries.

• This report/content was originally published by the Panth-Punjab Project. It is republished above for the information of readers of Sikh Siyasat News. 

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Related Topics: British Columbia Gurdwaras Council (BCGC), Coalition of Sikh organisations, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC), Panth-Punjab Project, The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO)

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