OTTAWA – The Sikh Federation Canada has issued a strong rebuke of the Government of Canada’s decision to host Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, citing unresolved grievances regarding foreign interference and the safety of Sikhs in Canada.

The statement follows meetings held earlier this month between Mr. Doval and senior Canadian officials, including the Prime Minister’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor. While Canadian officials have characterized the talks as part of a renewed security dialogue, the Sikh Federation argues that high-level engagement is premature given the ongoing investigations into the 2023 assassination of Sikh leader

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Federation expressed “deep concern” regarding the visit, pointing to “mounting evidence” of Indian security officials’ alleged involvement in political violence and transnational repression on Canadian soil.

Calls for Accountability Bhai Moninder Singh, National Spokesperson for the Sikh Federation Canada, criticized the lack of public repercussions for Indian officials despite serious allegations of interference in Canada’s democratic institutions.

“Despite clear evidence of Indian foreign interference, political violence, and threats to Sikhs in Canada, the Government of Canada continues to engage with Indian officials without meaningful accountability,” Singh stated.

He added that hosting a senior official like Mr. Doval sends a troubling signal. “This most recent visit… without any public accountability or repercussions sends a clear message that Canada is willing to overlook extrajudicial assassinations, such as that of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and violations to its sovereignty in exchange for economic benefit.”

Demands for Government Action The organization has outlined a series of demands for the federal government, urging an immediate halt to “all high-level engagements with Indian security officials” until specific conditions are met. These conditions include full transparency regarding the investigation into Nijjar’s death and the activities of the Bishnoi gang, which has been linked to criminal networks operating in Canada.

Furthermore, the Federation is calling on Ottawa to:

• Suspend security agreements: Immediately pause all intelligence and security pacts with India that could potentially be used to target political dissidents.

• Complete parliamentary studies: Ensure the completion of the October 2024 Parliamentary study on electoral interference and criminal activities by agents of the Government of India.

• Pursue sanctions: Enact targeted sanctions and seek prosecution against senior Indian officials alleged to be involved in violent crimes, specifically naming Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah, former R&AW Chief Samant Goel, and NSA Ajit Doval.

Context of the Visit The visit by NSA Doval comes at a sensitive time in Canada-India relations. For over two years, diplomatic ties have been strained following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons linking agents of the Indian government to the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

While recent diplomatic moves suggest a tentative “thaw” and a return to operational security cooperation, diaspora groups remain wary that normalization is occurring at the expense of justice for victims of foreign interference. The Sikh Federation Canada emphasized that any “reset” in relations must not bypass the judicial and parliamentary processes currently examining the extent of foreign influence in Canada.