• Source:JND
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Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised during a Khalsa parade in Toronto as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with his political rivals Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party and Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party (NDP), addressed the attendees on the occasion of Khalsa Day. During the event, Trudeau assured the Sikh community that the government is committed to safeguarding their rights and freedom at all costs. As Trudeau walked up to address the Sikh community, pro-Khalistan chants were heard throughout. 

“We have to remember and get reminded on days such as this and every day, that Sikh values are Canadian values. Truth, justice, openness, compassion, service, human rights. These are the values at the heart of Sikhism. These are the values of the heart of Sikh Canadian communities. But they’re also values at the heart of all Canadians,” Trudeau said during his speech amid chants of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans. 

The video of the event went viral on social media. In the viral video, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre can also be seen kneeling as a mark of respect for the Sikh community. “To the nearly 800,000 Canadians of Sikh heritage across this country, we will always be there to protect your rights and your freedoms, and we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination,” Trudeau said. 

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Earlier in March this year, several pro-Khalistan supporters gathered in Edmonton in Canada’s Alberta for a protest where anti-India slogans were raised. The protesters targeted the Indian High Commissioner to Canada and accused him of being involved in the assassination of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh. 

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India-Canada Relations

The diplomatic ties between Ottawa and New Delhi hit rock bottom after Trudeau alleged the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia in June. However, India has strongly rejected these allegations, calling them ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’, resulting in the expulsion of diplomats on both sides and escalating tensions between both countries.

The relations between the two nations also soured due to the Canadian government’s policies, promoting anti-India hatred and which do not restrict Khalistani separatists from spreading Hinduphobia.