Sikh Groups Were Frustrated by Politicians’ Responses to the Targeting of Canadian Sikhs. So They Threatened to Bar Them from Photo Ops.

This article was originally published in PressProgress on 4/24/26.

The leaders of the federal Conservatives and NDP, as well as the members of the Liberals’ Federal Sikh Caucus, have committed to “accountability” and “transparency” regarding transnational repression from India, following pressure from a coalition of Canadian Sikh organizations.

In February, the coalition of organizations — including Sikh Federation Canada, the BC Gurdwara Council, World Sikh Organization, Dashmesh Cultural Centre in Alberta, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and Quebec Sikh Council — wrote to members of Parliament asking for a commitment to protect Canadian Sikhs and promote transparency around foreign interference by India. The coalition wrote first to Sikh MPs, and then sent similar requests to the prime minister, Conservative leader and interim NDP leader.

PressProgress has exclusively obtained the full letters sent by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and new NDP Leader Avi Lewis in response. (These documents, along with an earlier response from the Liberals’ Sikh Caucus, are published in full at bottom.) They did not receive a reply from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The coalition had demanded that politicians: “Publicly commit to ensuring transparency about Indian transnational repression by committing to ensure maximum disclosure of any information” concerning it; revive a 2024 parliamentary study on “electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the Government of India,” ensuring a final report is presented to the House; and “commit to establishing an independent public inquiry at the earliest possible time to review the circumstances leading to Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination and any other coercive or violent activity linked to the agents of the Government of India.”

The leaders were given an April 3rd deadline to respond, after which the coalition stated it would take steps to restrict speaking opportunities at Sikh gurdwaras or events, which are frequented by politicians of varying political stripes to connect with the Sikh community and often attempt to garner votes.

“Transparency, oversight, and an independent review process are not partisan demands; they are foundational requirements of any democracy,” the letter read.

Moninder Singh, spokesperson for Sikh Federation Canada and the BC Gurdwara Council, told PressProgress that threatening to withdraw access to Sikh spaces was one way to attempt to get a response from politicians who had previously been silent on the issue.

“Sikhs are somewhat of a very strong political community in the country,” Singh said, adding that there are many ridings across the country in which Sikhs form an important voting bloc.

“I think for that reason, it is a significant blow to any political party or any political party leader if they’re not allowed to use those stages.”

Lewis affirmed the NDP’s support, stating in his response that “There can be no hesitation, no ambiguity, and no silence in responding to this.”

In the letter, dated April 8, Lewis told the coalition that the NDP supports the continuation of the parliamentary study and the establishment of an independent public inquiry into Nijjar’s assassination.

“New Democrats will not stop at these measures; we must go further. We reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to continue to seek formal recognition of the Sikh Genocide. This is a long-standing position of our party, rooted in our belief that justice requires truth, and that acknowledgement is a necessary step toward accountability,” Lewis wrote, adding that the NDP remains committed to banning the RSS network in Canada and measures that ban entry into Canada for “BJP officials and others who have called for or incited racist and genocidal violence against Muslims, Sikhs, and other minorities.”

Singh said that the NDP’s response was unsurprising, because the NDP has “been a partner from day one,” when it came to addressing the threats facing Canadian Sikhs.

Poilievre, who has repeatedly faced criticism for refusing to get security clearance to view evidence relating to transnational repression, also responded to the coalition’s letter.

In his response, Poilievre also agreed with the coalition’s request for transparency and accountability regarding foreign interference.

“Where individuals, networks, or agents of a foreign government are involved in intimidation or violence in Canada, they should be exposed. Name them. And hold them accountable. Any claim of national security cannot be used as a blanket excuse to hide information that is clearly in the public interest. Where full disclosure is not possible, meaningful public summaries must be provided,” Poilievre wrote.

Last year, a source told the Globe and Mail that CSIS had learned that India organized support for Poilievre’s 2022 leadership bid (though had found no evidence Poilievre had been aware of this).

At the time, Carney was critical of Poilievre’s refusal to get his security clearance, calling it “baffling” and “irresponsible.”

However, Singh says that, surprisingly, Poilievre’s response was more encouraging than Carney’s silence on the issue.

“We have not heard much at all on this issue in the last couple of years from the Conservative party, but we do feel that their letter was very strong, it was very committed and it used all the right language to protect Canada’s sovereignty, public safety in this country and the Sikh issue of dealing with India and calling India out directly, which we have not seen,” Singh said.

“I think that’s a good turn, and if we see action where the words are, that would be the telling sign as to where this is headed.”

The Conservative leader also said he supported the continuation of the parliamentary study on electoral interference and criminal activity, which could also independently look into Nijjar’s assassination.

“Canadians deserve a government that puts their safety ahead of political convenience.Sikh Canadians deserve to live freely, without fear of being targeted by foreign actorsoperating within our borders,” Poilievre wrote.

Carney did not respond to the coalition, but the Liberals’ Sikh Caucus did, saying they agree with the notion of transparency and accountability regarding foreign interference and that they support “the principle of maximum possible disclosure consistent with the law,” in a way that ensures accountability “through a process that upholds justice and protects national security.”

Late last year, the Justice Department filed an application to withhold some information from evidence during the coming trial of Nijjar’s alleged killers.

In an application to the Federal Court, lawyers representing the Attorney General of Canada argue that releasing certain evidence “would be injurious to international relations and national security,” according to Global News.

On Monday, the Globe and Mail reported that the court has appointed independent legal observers to help determine which information related to the case should be deemed sensitive.

In their letter, the members of the Liberals’ Sikh Caucus outlined the ways information related to transnational repression had already been “placed in the public domain.”

However, in many cases, much of the information directly related to India has been heavily redacted.

The Liberal Sikh Caucus stated they support a continuation of the parliamentary study if the committee determines that “further examination in this format would be valuable,” while also noting that “any committee and its work operate under the authority of the committee and its chair.”

Neither Jean-Yves Duclos, the chair of the public safety and national security committee, nor the Prime Minister’s Office responded to questions from PressProgress.

In regards to Nijjar’s assassination, the caucus stated they would consider a national inquiry if there are “gaps or outstanding questions” remaining once the legal proceedings have concluded.

Singh said he believed it was a “mistake” on the part of the Prime Minister’s Office to not respond to the coalition’s letter, but that was consistent with the “kind of silence we’ve seen from them on this issue since they took office.”

He said that what the prime minister describes as normalizing relations with the government of India, “we refer to as basically painting bullseyes on many Sikh activists across the country.”

Carney’s efforts to reestablish ties with India have been widely criticized by the Sikh community, which feels that international trade is being put above Sikhs’ right to security and safety.

Singh said that now that they have received written commitments, the next steps require them to move from words to actions.

“When we get these responses from any of these political parties, I do have to say that no one’s doing us any favours. This is something that is their job to do, to ensure that there’s public safety in Canada, and security, and Canada’s sovereignty is not undermined.”