India, Canada Secretly Discuss Bishnoi Gang: Tensions Over Nijjar Killing Escalate Amid Diplomatic Rift

Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, fresh allegations have emerged, accusing Indian government agents of orchestrating violence against pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada. According to a report published by The Washington Post, a secret meeting was held in Singapore last week between India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and top Canadian officials. During the meeting, Canadian authorities reportedly presented alleged evidence suggesting that India had enlisted criminal networks, specifically the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, to carry out targeted killings, including the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani leader killed in Surrey, British Columbia, last year.

The report, citing anonymous Canadian officials, claimed that the Indian government had used these criminal elements to intimidate or eliminate separatist activists. This development comes amid a growing diplomatic rift between the two countries, marked by a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

Canada’s Allegations: A Web of Organized Crime and Politics

The Washington Post report, based on information provided by Canadian security officials, detailed a tense five-hour meeting in Singapore, where Doval allegedly expressed surprise about the Bishnoi gang’s involvement. However, as the discussions progressed, the Indian NSA reportedly acknowledged the criminal group’s influence, noting that Bishnoi was capable of conducting violent operations even from his prison cell in India.

Canadian officials, led by security adviser Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison, and a senior Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) official, asserted that they had strong evidence linking India to a broader campaign of violence against Sikh separatists in Canada. They also revealed that the trial of four suspects involved in Nijjar’s killing would soon begin, likely bringing more sensitive details to light.

These allegations are not entirely new. The Canadian government has previously accused India of supporting or orchestrating attacks on South Asian Canadians, particularly pro-Khalistan activists. Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly implicated Indian agents in Nijjar’s murder, a claim India has vehemently denied. In response, both countries have engaged in a series of diplomatic expulsions, signaling the deepening of a political and diplomatic crisis.

India’s Denial and Diplomatic Tensions

India has consistently rejected these allegations, calling them “preposterous” and politically motivated. In response to the recent U.S. report, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue an official statement, but previous responses from Indian authorities suggest that they view the claims as part of a larger political agenda orchestrated by the Canadian government, specifically by Prime Minister Trudeau, whose support among voters has been declining.

According to the Washington Post report, during the meeting in Singapore, Doval emphasized that India would categorically deny any involvement in the Nijjar killing, regardless of the evidence presented. Indian diplomats have similarly dismissed accusations that they were involved in targeting Sikh separatists in Canada.

In retaliation for Canada’s expulsion of six Indian diplomats, India has also expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s top representative in New Delhi. This escalating diplomatic standoff shows no signs of easing, as both nations continue to take firm stances on the issue.

Bishnoi Gang: A Nexus of Crime and International Allegations

The Bishnoi gang, led by the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi from his prison cell in India, has emerged as a formidable criminal organization. Initially involved in local extortion, arms trafficking, and murder in India, the gang’s reach has expanded to Canada, where its associate, gangster Goldy Brar, is believed to be operating.

The Canadian government now claims that the Bishnoi gang has been used by Indian intelligence agencies to carry out violent acts against pro-Khalistan figures in Canada. The RCMP Commissioner, Mike Duhene, and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin, have made public statements that agents of the Indian government allegedly used organized crime elements to target South Asians in Canada, specifically pro-Khalistani elements.

Gauvin pointed to the Bishnoi gang as being directly linked to these operations, citing their alleged involvement in extortion, intimidation, and murder. Duhene went as far as to say that Indian government agents were not only aware of these criminal activities but were actively directing them.

India has consistently denied these accusations, insisting that it has no involvement with organized crime groups or illegal activities in Canada. The Indian government has stated that its only interest is in maintaining national security and addressing legitimate threats posed by separatist movements advocating for Khalistan, a Sikh independent state.

Political Ramifications in Canada and India

The timing of these revelations is politically charged, particularly for Trudeau’s government, which has faced declining approval ratings. His accusations against India have been viewed by some as a strategic move to galvanize support ahead of the 2025 general elections. In recent weeks, Trudeau survived two parliamentary confidence votes, and his government’s handling of foreign policy and security issues remains a hot topic of debate.

For India, the allegations are equally significant. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance against Khalistani separatists, both at home and abroad. Allegations linking the Modi administration to criminal organizations could tarnish its international reputation, especially as India seeks to strengthen its global partnerships.

Diplomatic or Legal Action?

As the trial for the suspects in Nijjar’s killing approaches, more evidence could surface, potentially further straining India-Canada relations. Both nations have called on each other to cooperate in ongoing investigations, but so far, dialogue has been limited to high-level diplomatic exchanges.

Observers are concerned that the growing rift between two major Commonwealth nations could have broader implications for regional and international stability, particularly in the context of rising tensions between India and separatist movements abroad. While Canada continues to pursue what it describes as “justice for Nijjar,” India remains focused on protecting its national interests and countering what it sees as a politically motivated attack on its sovereignty.