Canada alleges Indian minister ordered campaign targeting Sikh separatists

Canada has accused an Indian minister of ordering a campaign that targets Sikh separatists. This news follows on the growing tension between the two countries around the issue of Sikh separatism, which seeks an independent Sikh state labelled as 'Khalistan' in Punjab, a region straddling the border of India and Pakistan. Canadian officials have alleged that the unnamed Indian minister directed resources to defame members of the Sikh community in Canada who are advocating for this cause, accusing them of extremism. The minister is also accused of spearheading misinformation campaigns about Canadian Sikh organizations and leaders and seeking to undermine the support base for Sikh separatism in Canada. The Indian authorities, however, has yet to comment on these allegations. It's also crucial to note that the relationship between India and Canada has often been strained over this issue, as Canada is home to one of the most significant Sikh diasporas globally and has often been criticized by India for not taking strong enough action against what it sees as Sikh separatist groups operating on Canadian soil. These allegations certainly have to potential to contribute to these ongoing tensions. It remains unclear as to what consequences this may lead to at the political level between the two nations, but it underlines the sensitive and complex nature of the Sikh separatist issue.