In a recent development, Canada’s federal police have launched an investigation into a video circulating online that urges individuals to avoid flying with Air India starting November 19. Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez confirmed this on Thursday, underscoring the government’s commitment to treating all threats seriously, especially those involving airlines.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is actively engaged in the investigation, responding to a video released by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) over the weekend. In the video, SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Pannun, delivered a warning in Punjabi, advising Sikhs not to travel with Air India after November 19, citing potential risks to their safety. Pannun later clarified in a statement that his intention was to call for a boycott of the airline, not to issue a direct threat.
The situation adds complexity to Canada-India relations, already strained by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September allegations of Indian involvement in the June murder of a Canadian Sikh leader near Vancouver. Trudeau’s expulsion of an Indian diplomat believed to be linked to the slaying was dismissed by India as “absurd,” further fueling tensions.
Pannun, in discussions with Canadian media, emphasized that the call was to boycott Indian businesses and not a direct threat. With Canada being home to a significant Sikh population of around 770,000, constituting approximately two percent of the overall population, the advisory has broader implications.
The deteriorating relations between India and Canada, exacerbated by the unsolved murder and Indian dissatisfaction with Ottawa’s handling of Sikh separatist issues, are now facing a new challenge with the ongoing investigation into the Air India travel advisory. This development adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate diplomatic landscape between the two countries.
