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2023 Sikh protests

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2023 Sikh protests
Part of the Khalistan movement
DateFebruary – October 2023
Location
 Australia
 Canada
 India
 Italy
 New Zealand
 United Kingdom
 United States
Caused by
  • Arrest of Lovepreet Toofan Singh in February 2023
  • Arrest of Amritpal Singh in March 2023
  • Assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023
MethodsDemonstrations, blockades and rallies
Parties

The 2023 Sikh protests were a series of rallies from February to October 2023. They began following a registration of a first information report (FIR) in the Ajnala police station against Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh and his aides for purported kidnapping and theft. Singh's close associate Lovepreet Toofan Singh was detained, prompting Amritpal Singh to issue an "ultimatum" to Punjab Police to revoke the case, and, upon their unresponsiveness, his supporters thereafter started mass protests and stormed the police complex with weapons. Although Lovepreet Toofan Singh was subsequently released, Punjab Police launched a crackdown on Amritpal Singh for obstruction of law enforcement. This resulted in a series of demonstrations led by Sikhs in India, as well as diasporic Sikhs.

The second phase of the protests began in June 2023, following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani separatist, in Canada.[2] In July, Khalistani supporters set the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire, which was later suppressed by the San Francisco Fire Department. In September 2023, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau declared India to be involved in the killing of Nijjar, which was denied by the Indian government. These issues led to the ongoing Canada–India diplomatic row. Sikhs activists in the United States led demonstrated in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and New York City.[3][4]

Background

[edit]
Main article: Amritpal Singh manhunt

On 18 March 2023, Indian authorities launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh after he was accused by police of attempted murder, obstruction of law enforcement and creating "disharmony" in society.[5][6]

During the manhunt, Indian authorities deployed thousands of paramilitary police and restricted mobile Internet and mobile messaging services for nearly 30 million people across the Punjab state.[7] Indian authorities also arrested more than 200 people while conducting a massive manhunt.[8][9][10] Meanwhile, Singh was nowhere to be found.[11]

After more than a month, on 23 April 2023, Singh was arrested from Rode village in Moga district, Punjab. Later, he was taken to the high-security Dibrugarh jail in Assam state.[12]

Events

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On 15 March 2023, the Honorary Consulate of India located in Brisbane, Australia, was forced to temporarily shut down after Khalistan supporters blockaded the entry.[13]

On 19 March 2023, Singh's supporters pulled down the Indian flag and waved the Khalistan flag instead at the India House, London. They also broke a window.[14][15] In reaction India summoned Britain's most senior diplomat and removed barracides outside of the British High Commission in New Delhi.[16] Two security guards suffered minor injury and a protester was later arrested in connection to the incident.[17]

In Mohali, Punjab and Sohana Chowk hundreds of protesters under the Kaumi Insaaf Morcha blocked important roads to the airport. Heavy police deployment occurred with multiple high ranking officers arriving to the site. Some left after leaders requested the protest end but many stayed.[18] The protest led to delays in traffic. Some protesters created stone and brick walls which blocked service lanes and slip roads bring the traffic to a full halt. Nihangs were there on horses brandishing weapons. All traffic coming from Chandigarh had been diverted as police barracatied all four doors leading to Sohana Chowk.[19] After three days of the roads being blocked on 22 March police cleared the protesters arresting 25 people. Police also seized weapons including swords, farm tools, and spears. The Superintendent of Police (SP), Navreet Singh Varak was injured along with four other officers.[20]

On 20 March 2023, the supporters of the Khalistan movement also vandalized the Indian Consulate in San Francisco with a graffiti reading '#FreeAmritpal'.[21][17] In Surrey a protest was held at the Taj Park Convention Centre where the Indian High Commissioner was to be welcomed. Sameer Kaushal a journalist and new director was assaulted.[22] In Vancouver, a small group of UBC students protested outside Walter C. Koerner Library. The protesters later joined a bigger rally outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery.[23]

On 25 March 2023, about 500 people rallied to protest crackdowns targeting Sikhs in Punjab, India at the Consulate General of India in Vancouver, Canada. Moninder Singh a spokesman for the British Columbia Gurdwara Council said, “We're here to show our dissent, our displeasure against the Indian state for this suspension of civil liberties and violation of human rights".[24][25][26] A small group held a protest on the same day outside the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John to, “raise awareness against ongoing human rights violations in Punjab.”[27][28]

On 26 March 2023, a protest was held outside the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C. The Press Trust of India's Washington D.C-based Chief, Lalit K. Jha, was hit by protesters. He described the assault saying, "The gentleman… hit my left ear with these two sticks and earlier I had to call 911 and rushed [to a] police van [for] safety fearing a public assault."[29]

On 27 March 2023, the Akal Takht held a gathering with over 50 Sikh organisations. After they gave an ultimatum to the Punjab Government which was to release all Sikhs arrested in the past 10 days within 24 hours.[30] The Akal Takht further announced it would launch its own Vaheer if the demand is not met.[31] The Akal Takht also announced it would give financial assistance to the families of those who have been charged under the NSA act.[32] Along with this protests were held outside the Akal Takht and Golden Temple.[33]

On 27 March 2023, a protest was held in Toronto outside the Indian consulate where an Indian flag was burned.[26] Another protest was held in Times Square, New York City. Protesters held a car rally. The protesters had an LED billboard truck showing Amritpal Singh. They also had purchased billboards in Times Square which showed Amritpal Singh along with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.[34][35]

On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated in Surrey, Canada.[36] This amplified issues between Sikhs and Hindus, with Khalistani protestors going as far as to set the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire.[37] The arson attempt was promptly suppressed by the San Francisco Fire Department, resulting in limited damage to the building and no injuries to the staffers present.[38] The incident was condemned by the State Department's spokesman Matthew Miller.[39]

In September 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian security agencies have opened an investigation into Nijjar's killing, which officers suspect of having been ordered by the Indian government.[40] This was denied by India, and these issues led to a diplomatic row between the two countries.[40] On 1 September 2024, the organization, Sikhs for Justice, held a rally in Toronto. Floats within the parade glorified Dilawar Singh Babbar, a suicide bomber affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (a banned organization in Canada), who killed former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and numerous other bystanders. A sign at the rally read "Beanta Bombed to Death". SFJ described Babbar as a "human bomb". SFJ's general counsel in a statement said:"We are all offspring of Dilawar. At that time in 1995, the choice of weapon was a bomb, but we have choice of ballot today.” Some attendees chanted "Kill India" at the rally.[41][42]

In October 2024, Rishi Nagar, a Canadian radio host of Calgary Red FM, reported on an incident at Gurdwara Dashmesh Culture Centre, a Sikh temple in Calgary, in which two men were arrested on various firearms related charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm and pointing a firearm; multiple guns were seized by the police at the site. Following the report, Nagar was assaulted by two men. Calgary Police's Staff Sergeant John Guigon described the assault as “particularly troubling to us when a member of the media gets attacked in a democracy”.[49][50][51] Calgary Red FM stated that Nagar "faced some blowback for his opposition to the Khalistan movement".[52]

Reaction

[edit]

In March 2023, Canada's High Commissioner was summoned by India to "convey strong concern" over Sikh protesters in Canada.[53]

In September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed concerns about the protests in Canada to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[54]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/crackdown-on-amritpal-36-hours-on-sikh-protesters-keep-chokehold-on-sohana-chowk-101679259272978.html
  2. ^ "Canadian Sikhs protest against India gov't over Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  3. ^ Kaur, Brahmjot (23 March 2023). "Protests erupt across the U.S. amid internet shutdown in India and manhunt for activist". NBC News.
  4. ^ Laskar, Rezaul Hasan (21 March 2023). "Protests over action against Amritpal Singh erupt in 4 countries, India objects". Hindustan Times.
  5. ^ Mogul, Rhea (22 March 2023). "Khalistan: The outlawed Sikh separatist movement that has Indian authorities on edge". CNN.
  6. ^ Jaiswal, PK (20 March 2023). "Know about criminal cases that led to crackdown on Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh". The Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ Rajvanshi, Astha (23 March 2023). "What to Know About the Massive Political Manhunt in India". TIME. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  8. ^ Lawler, Dave (23 March 2023). "Manhunt for Sikh separatist in India stirs up old fears". Axios.
  9. ^ "India arrests more than 100 people in manhunt for Sikh separatist". Al-Jazeera. 20 March 2023.
  10. ^ Reed, John; Singh, Jyotsna (4 April 2023). "Manhunt for fugitive Sikh separatist puts India's Punjab on edge". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023.
  11. ^ Pundir, Pallavi (22 March 2023). "India Cuts Off Internet to 27 Million People to Catch One Man". VICE. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Amritpal Singh: Sikh separatist arrested after weeks on the run". BBC News. 23 April 2023.
  13. ^ Bharadwaj, Jai; Sarwal, Amit (16 March 2023). "Brisbane's Indian Consulate forced to close down by Khalistan supporters as Police watched on". The Australia Today.
  14. ^ Naqvi, Muneeza (20 March 2023). "India Blasts UK as National Flag Pulled Down in London". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ "How India's hunt for Amritpal Singh caused diplomatic row with UK". Al Jazeera. 23 March 2023.
  16. ^ Sharma, Yashraj (28 March 2023). "India can't find a Sikh separatist leader, but its manhunt has got the world's attention". NBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ^ a b Lawless, Jill; Har, Janie (20 March 2023). "Windows smashed at India consulates in London, San Francisco". AP NEWS. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  18. ^ Sharma, Nikhil (19 March 2023). "Crackdown against Amritpal: Sikh protesters block Sohana chowk in Mohali". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. ^ Sharma, Nikhil (20 March 2023). "Crackdown on Amritpal: 36 hours on, Sikh protesters keep chokehold on Sohana Chowk". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  20. ^ Khanna, Mohit (21 March 2023). "Police get cracking after 3 days, clear Sohana Chowk of Amritpal supporters". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  21. ^ Saaliq, Sheikh; Pathi, Krutika (23 March 2023). "India police seek Sikh leader, arrest separatist supporters". Associated Press.
  22. ^ Little, Simon; Nolin, Julie (20 March 2023). "Journalist allegedly assaulted as Punjab tensions spill over into B.C." Global News. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  23. ^ Arora, Aadya (21 March 2023). "Sikh students hold protest at UBC, downtown Vancouver against human rights violations in Punjab". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Hundreds gather in Vancouver to protest crackdown in India's Sikh-majority state". CBC News. 25 March 2023.
  25. ^ Prasad, Travis; Matassa-Fung, Darrian (25 March 2023). "Hundreds protest outside Indian Consulate in Vancouver held by Sikh community, supporters". Global News.
  26. ^ a b Bhattacharyya, Anirudh (27 March 2023). "Amritpal Singh protests in Canada: India worried over security at its missions". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  27. ^ Singh, Manavpreet (28 March 2023). "Fort St. John Sikhs hold protest against human rights issues in India". Energeticcity.ca. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  28. ^ Singh, Manavpreet (29 March 2023). "Fort St. John Sikhs holding protest against human rights issues in India". Coast Reporter. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  29. ^ Bikhchandani, Raghav (26 March 2023). "Indian journalist 'attacked' at pro-Amritpal protest in Washington, embassy condemns 'wanton violence'". The Print. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  30. ^ Bagga, Neeraj (27 March 2023). "Akal Takht serves 24-hour ultimatum on Punjab Government to release supporters of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh". The Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  31. ^ Patial, Jagwinder (27 March 2023). "Akal Takht Jathedar Gives Ultimatum To Punjab Govt To Release Arrested Sikh Youths In 24 Hours". ABP Live. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  32. ^ "'Release all arrested Sikhs within 24 hrs': Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar's ulti". True Scoop News. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Pro-Khalistan protests at Golden Temple as hardliners back Amritpal Singh". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Khalistan supporters protest at Times Square in New York". The Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Amritpal Singh, Bhindranwale billboard in Times Square; Netizens slam 'glorification of terrorists'". Hindustan Times. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  36. ^ "What's behind India-Canada tensions over killing of Sikh separatist leader?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  37. ^ "2nd attack since March: Indian consulate set on fire in San Francisco; US condemns violence". The Times of India. 4 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  38. ^ "US condemns vandalism, attempted arson against Indian Consulate in San Francisco". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  39. ^ "US condemns vandalism at Indian consulate in San Francisco". Reuters. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  40. ^ a b "What's behind India-Canada tensions over killing of Sikh separatist leader?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Pro-Khalistani Group in Toronto Glorifies Beant Singh's Killer, Indian Authorities to Raise Issue With Canada | EXCLUSIVE". News18. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  42. ^ "Canada: Pro-Khalistan rallies feature floats celebrating 1995 Beant Singh bombing". Business Today. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  43. ^ "'I will not be silenced': Calgary radio host attack caught on CCTV". Global News. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Calgary radio host speaks out after being attacked outside banquet hall". Global News. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Indo-Canadian mediaperson, attacked by two persons, blames 'pro-Khalistan' elements". Hindustan Times.
  46. ^ "Calgary police investigating weekend assault of radio host". CTV News Calgary. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  47. ^ "Radio journalist says he was assaulted in attack over news coverage". Calgary Herald. City police are seeking two suspects in an assault on a well-known radio journalist in Calgary's northeast that apparently targeted his reporting on crime issues within the Sikh community.
  48. ^ "Calgary police probe assault of RED FM news director". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Staff Sgt. John Guigon said Nagar was struck in the head but was not seriously hurt, and that the incident was captured on video. "It was not a pleasant situation," he said."[It is] particularly troubling to us when a member of the media gets attacked in a democracy.... We're throwing resources at it."
  49. ^ [43][44][45][46][47][48]
  50. ^ Sharma, Abhinav (3 October 2024). "Canadian radio journalist Rishi Nagar attacked by Khalistani groups in Canada". Diya TV. Retrieved 4 October 2024. A group of men supportive of the Khalistan separatist movement violently assaulted Canada-based RED FM News Director Rishi Nagar allegedly for refusing to align with their agenda.
  51. ^ Moharib, Nadia (30 September 2024). "Man threatened outside NE temple, two arrested: Calgary police". CityNews Calgary. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  52. ^ Bradley, Jonathan (1 October 2024). "RED FM Calgary host says attack will not stop his journalism". Western Standard. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  53. ^ "India summons Canada High Commissioner, concerned over Sikh protesters". Reuters. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  54. ^ "Modi scolds Trudeau over Sikh protests in Canada against India". Reuters. 11 September 2023.
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