Introduction
The history of Sikh immigration in Canada dates back to the late 19th century when Risaldar Major Kesur Singh and a contingent of Sikh officers arrived in Vancouver aboard the ship Empress of India in 1897. Their journey marked the beginning of a vibrant Sikh community in Canada, and today Canada has come to be known as ‘mini Punjab’.
Early Struggles and Triumphs
Sikhs in Canada initially found employment opportunities in sectors such as the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, lumber mills, and mines. Despite facing wage disparities compared to their white counterparts, they managed to earn enough to remit funds to India, facilitating the immigration of their family members to Canada. Over time, Sikh immigrants began moving up the economic ladder, taking on better jobs and earning more. They also made significant contributions to Canada's infrastructure, building numerous Gurudwaras across the country.
Current State of Sikhs in Canada
Today, Sikhs have become one of the fastest-growing religious groups in Canada and the fourth-largest overall, with a population of over 800,000, making up about 2.1% of the country's population. The largest Sikh populations are found in Ontario, with over 500,000 members.
Economically, Sikh Canadians have an above-average income compared to the general population. They are also more likely to be self-employed and work in professional and managerial occupations. A 2016 study found that the average
income for Sikh Canadians was $63,000, compared to $57,000 for the general population.
Sikh Canadians have also made significant strides in the political arena, with 15 Sikh Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons, representing 4.3% of the total number of MPs. This is a considerable increase from the 1990s when there were only a handful of Sikh MPs. Sikhs are also well-represented in provincial legislatures and municipal councils across the country.
The Khalistan Movement
However, the story of Sikh immigrants in Canada is not without its fair share of problems. The Khalistan movement, a separatist movement advocating for a separate Sikh state and the partition of Punjab from India, has gained significance in Canada. This movement stems from the 1970s, a tumultuous period in India, and was further fueled by events such as the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the subsequent riots against Sikhs in the New Delhi area, as well as Operation Blue Star.
In Canada, where Sikhs hold considerable influence, the Khalistan movement has now become a matter of concern for the Canadian government. Despite multiple warnings by the Indian Government, Canadian leadership in order to appease some sections of the Sikh community ignored these warnings and the influence of the Khalistanis kept growing. Canadian intelligence agencies in 2016 identified Khalistani terrorism as one of the top domestic threats. However, self-appointed Sikh community leaders pushed back, characterizing the report's language as an attack on Sikhism itself. This was the very thing that the Indian government had warned the Western world about. Khalistanis have been attempting to make Sikhism and Khalistan as the same thing. The well planned and organised criticism of the Canadian Intelligence agencies was so severe that the report was watered down and almost had no mention of Khalistan in the end.
Instances of Khalistani terrorist activities, once limited to Punjab, escalated, including the bombing of an Air India flight, which tragically took the lives of all its occupants. The influence of Khalistanis has grown over the years, impacting young Punjabi immigrants who seek opportunities in Canada. Many young Punjabi immigrants face the challenge of assimilation in a foreign country, where the local population can sometimes be unwelcoming. To cope with these difficulties, immigrants often form close-knit communities, such as those of Gujaratis, Punjabis, and Bengalis. However, the power and influence of Khalistanis have made it challenging for newcomers to navigate their path to integration in Canadian society without getting involved with the activities of the Khalistani organizations.
Hardip Singh Nijjar
One prominent figure in this whole saga of Khalistan is Hardip Singh Nijjar, who arrived in Canada in 1997. Despite a rejected refugee claim and a contentious marriage, Nijjar somehow managed to become a Canadian citizen. His involvement in a dispute with Ripudaman Singh Malik, who had just been acquitted in the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing case, raised suspicions of his involvement in the death of Ripudaman Singh Malik.
Interpol upon the request of the Indian government issued red notices against Nijjar, accusing him of links to the Khalistan Tiger Force and a 2007 cinema hall bomb blast. In 2020, India designated Nijjar as a terrorist, citing his involvement in seditious activities. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in the parking lot of a Gurdwara sparking a diplomatic crisis between Canada and India. Two months after the killing of Nijjar, PM Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder. It has been weeks since the public accusation and the Canadian government still hasn’t made the evidence public.
This Canadian habit of protecting foreign terrorists is no different from that of Arab states protecting Islamist terrorists.
Terrorism has no justification, regardless of the religion of the terrorist. Regardless of who killed Nijjar, it is more important to discuss how much longer Canada and the West at large is going to allow the use of their soil to propagate ideas that threaten the unity of India.
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