Activist Moninder Singh Faces Assassination Threats Amid Policy Shift

Moninder Singh, a Canadian activist advocating for the independence of Punjab, India, has been living under constant threat of assassination for over three years. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have issued multiple warnings about imminent threats to his life, the latest occurring in March 2023. As a result, Singh has altered his lifestyle dramatically, avoiding public events and frequently changing his accommodations to protect his family from potential harm.

Singh, who is based in British Columbia, believes the threats originate from the Indian government, which he accuses of targeting him due to his activism. “Nobody should have to live like this,” Singh stated during an interview at his home in Surrey. Despite the risks, he has intensified his advocacy, feeling particularly betrayed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent diplomatic overtures towards India aimed at strengthening trade relations.

The Sikh community in Canada, particularly leaders like Singh, are increasingly aware of the risks posed by Indian transnational repression. The RCMP has connected Indian agents to various violent incidents, including the murder of fellow activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. Singh’s concerns are compounded by findings from a foreign interference inquiry, which indicated that India’s interference in Canadian elections was only surpassed by that of China.

Singh expressed his disappointment with the Carney government, stating, “I think the entire Sikh community, including myself, feel a sense of betrayal in this.” He believes the government’s decision to deepen ties with New Delhi overlooks the serious threats faced by Canadian Sikhs. While Carney’s office has not commented on the specific concerns raised by Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasized that Canada continues to address these issues with India, asserting that the government has raised security concerns in dialogues with Indian officials.

Singh has a personal connection to the events in Punjab, having grown up hearing about the conflict from his father, who campaigned for Punjab’s independence after witnessing the fallout from the Indian Army’s 1984 storming of the Golden Temple. This military operation intensified the Khalistan movement, which seeks independence for the Sikh-majority state. Singh’s advocacy is rooted in a desire to reclaim sovereignty lost during British colonization.

The threats to Singh escalated significantly after Nijjar’s assassination, prompting heightened security measures. In July 2022, the RCMP informed Singh that his life was at risk, a warning that gained urgency following Nijjar’s murder outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey. Singh noted that the threat became more tangible after the FBI disrupted a second plot against another activist, tracing it back to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), pro-Khalistan extremists represent a small fraction of the Sikh community, yet the Indian government views the movement as a significant security threat. Singh argues that the Canadian government initially took the right steps, particularly when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly acknowledged India’s role in Nijjar’s murder, calling it an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

However, with Carney’s administration focusing on enhancing economic ties with India, Singh fears that the concerns of the Sikh community are being overlooked. “Somewhere in all of that, India became viable again,” Singh lamented. The recent invitation for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit in June 2024 reflects this shift and has raised alarms among Canadian Sikhs who feel their safety is being sacrificed for trade ambitions.

The Canadian government has taken some measures, including designating the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, but Singh believes more transparency is needed regarding India’s actions in Canada. As he continues to navigate life as a target, Singh remains resolute in his activism. “We’re not gonna stop doing what we’re doing,” he asserted. He believes that if India can suppress dissent in Canada, it sets a dangerous precedent for other nations.

Despite the challenges, Singh remains committed to voicing his concerns. He emphasizes the importance of standing up against foreign interference and ensuring that all Canadians can express their views freely. “If India is going to come here and start shutting down one conversation with one group of people, it opens the door for many other countries to try and do the same,” he concluded.