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Punjab Gangster, Khalistan Supporter Sukha Killed In Canada

By LokMarg 21st September 2023

Multiple Indian agencies on Thursday have corroborated reports of the death of wanted gangster Sukhdool Singh, alias Sukha Duneke, in Winnipeg, Canada.

Winnipeg Police have confirmed the incident of shooting in the area of Aldgate Road on September 18, but have not confirmed it as being fatal. The Winnipeg Police have also not named Sukhdool Singh as the victim.

In a statement posted on X the Winnipeg Police said “On September 18, 2023, at approximately 6:20 p.m., General Patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting incident in the area of Aldgate Road and Gobert Crescent. The Major Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation.”

https://x.com/wpgpolice/status/1704214844105457724?s=20

Sources in Indian intelligence agencies say Sukha Duneke was shot dead by an unidentified assailant. Sources confirmed that his murder was a fall out of inter-gang rivalry. However, no gang has taken responsibility of his murder as of now.

Duneke was part of the Davinder Bambiha gang from Moga district. He fled Punjab in 2017 allegedly with the help of local policemen. Sukha Duneke obtained a passport and police clearance certificate on forged documents with the help of these policemen to flee to Canada, even as seven criminal cases were registered against him.

In year 2022, Duneke allegedly conspired to kill kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal with the help of his associates during a kabaddi match at Mallian village in Jalandhar.

He was allegdly associated with the pro-Khalistan outfits and was said to be linked to Canada based Khalistan operative Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dala a designated terrorist in India.

Duneke mostly made calls for extortion and indulged in contracted killings. More than 20 criminal cases of murder and other heinous crimes have been registered against him in Punjab and nearby states.

Duneke was on the NIA’s list of most wanted which was released on Wednesday. As per the NIA the persons shown in photograohs are wanted in the investigation of RC-38/2022/NIA/DLI & RC-39/2022/NIA/DLI.

Investigations had shown that these gangs had carried out targeted killing to terrorise the public and extort money.

On June 19, dsignated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in inter-gang warfare in Surrey, British Columbia. (ANI)

Trudeau In India, Khalistani Separatists Hold ‘Referendum’ In Canada

By LokMarg 11th September 2023

Even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in India for the G20 Leaders’ summit on Sunday, Khalistani secessionists held a so-called ‘Referendum’ in Surrey, British Columbia.

Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), was present at the gathering of the Khalistani separatists held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey, Vancouver.

In a provocative speech, Pannun used intimidating language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other leaders. He claimed that the separatists were challenging the territorial integrity of India.

Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday raised “strong concerns” about the continuous “anti-India activities” by extremist elements in Canada in his pull-aside meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

Prime Minister Modi stated that it was essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats.

“The Prime Minister conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

It added, “The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats”. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship.”

After his meeting with PM Modi, Trudeau in a news conference said that he had many conversations with PM Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference”, and Canada would always defend freedom of expression, and at the same time will always be there to prevent violence.

He further emphasized that the “actions of the few” do not represent the entire community or Canada. “Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred,” Trudeau said.

He added, “I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and we did talk about foreign interference”.

Earlier this month, Canadian authorities had withdrawn permission to hold the so-called ‘referendum’ at a public school in Canada after concerns were raised over promotional materials that featured pictures of a weapon.

The referendum was scheduled to be held at the Tamanawis Secondary School in Canada’s Surrey on September 10. (ANI)

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We Are Always There To Prevent Violence: Trudeau On Khalistan

By LokMarg 10th September 2023

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he had many conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference”, and Ottawa will always defend freedom of expression, and at the same time will always be there to prevent violence.

He further emphasized that the “actions of the few” do not represent the entire community or Canada.

When asked about if the issues of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference” did come up during discussions with PM Modi during the G20 Summit, he said, “Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred”.

“I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and we did talk about foreign interference,” he added.

Notably, multiple incidents of Khalistan extremism have been reported in Canada over the past few years.

In June this year, a tableau parade was organised in Canada celebrating the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, which drew severe criticism from New Delhi. In March this year, Khalistan supporters held a protest outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.

Multiple temples have also been vandalised in Canada by pro-Khalistani protestors, with anti-India graffitis.

Earlier in July, India also raised concerns over threats to its diplomats in posters being circulated in Canada with information on a pro-Khalistan rally to be held on July 8. The posters contained threats to the Indian Ambassador to Canada and the consulate general in Toronto.

The posters purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists have named Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and the Consulate General of India, Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava accusing them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. (ANI)

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Mahabharata Set To Make Its UK Premiere At London’s Barbican Theatre

By LokMarg 24th July 2023

A new stage adaptation of the ancient Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ is in the works. As per Variety, the stage adaptation of Mahabharata is all set to make its UK premiere at London’s Barbican Theatre this fall.

The retelling of the revered text, which follows a devastating family feud and explores profound philosophical and spiritual ideas, is from Canada’s Why Not Theatre and had its world premiere at The Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada in March.
The production is presented in two parts and narrated by a storyteller (Miriam Fernandes). “Karma” (part 1), is the origin story of the rival Pandava and Kaurava clans. In “Dharma” (part 2), a great battle destroys the planet and the survivors are left behind to rebuild.

“Mahabharata” is performed by a company from across four continents, all from the South Asian diaspora. The cast includes UK-based performers Ajay Chhabra (“Rough Diamonds,” Netflix), Neil D’Souza (“How To Hold Your Breath,” Royal Court), Darren Kuppan (“Let The Right One In,” Manchester Royal Exchange), Goldy Notay (“Life of Pi,” U.K. tour) and Sakuntala Ramanee (“Life of Pi,” West End), who are joined by Canadian and other international performers Shawn Ahmed, Jay Emmanuel, Fernandes, Navtej Sandhu, Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu, Ellora Patnaik, Meher Pavri, Munish Sharma and Sukania Venugopal, and understudies Varun Guru, Karthik Kadam, Suma Nair, Ronica Sajnani and Ishan Sandhu.

The adaption is by Why Not Theatre’s founding artistic director Ravi Jain, who also directs, and co-artistic director Fernandes, using poetry from Carole Satyamurti’s “Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling.”

The original concept was developed with Jenny Koons. Set design is by Lorenzo Savoini, costume design by Gillian Gallow, lighting design by Kevin Lamotte, projections by Hana S Kim, sound design by John Gzowski and Suba Sankaran, original music by John Gzowski and Sankaran, with contributions from Dylan Bell, Gurtej Singh Hunjan, Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed and Hasheel Lodhia, and choreography by Brandy Leary with contributions by Jay Emmanuel and Ellora Patnaik. Lead producers are Michelle Yagi and Kevin Matthew Wong, with production manager Crystal Lee.

The audience can see the stage adaptation of ‘Mahabharata’ from October 1 to October 7. (ANI)

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Google To Remove News From Search Results In Canada Over Paying Publishers Law

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Google, on Thursday, announced that it will remove Canadian news content from its search, news, and discover products after the government passed a bill, which requires online platforms to pay news publishers takes effect in the country.

In a statement, Google said Canada’s Bill C-18-Online News Act, which was passed last week, “remains unworkable”.
“We have now informed the Government that when the law takes effect, we, unfortunately, will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada and that C-18 will also make it untenable for us to continue offering our Google News Showcase product in Canada,” Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs, Google & Alphabet, said in a blog.

He further added, “We’re disappointed it has come to this. We don’t take this decision or its impacts lightly and believe it’s important to be transparent with Canadian publishers and our users as early as possible.”

The decision comes after the Canadian Government’s contentious C-18 legislation passed Parliament last week. The bill has been criticized by tech giants like Meta and Google who say it’s unfair to impose what amounts to a tax on links.

Google also stated that they support Canadian journalism.

Pointing out its work in Canadian news service, Google said that last year, the company linked to Canadian news publications more than 3.6 billion times — at no charge — helping publishers make money through ads and new subscriptions. This referral traffic from links has been valued at USD 250 million CAD annually.

Kent Walker also stated that ever since the Government introduced C-18 last year, Google has shared its experiences in other countries and has been clear that unworkable legislation could lead to changes that affect the availability of news on Google’s products in Canada.

“Last week, just as the Bill was approaching final passage and Royal Assent, the Government agreed to discuss the possibility of addressing some of the most critical issues, which we welcomed. In that discussion, we asked for clarity on financial expectations platforms face for simply linking to news, as well as a specific, viable path towards exemption based on our programs to support news and our commercial agreements with publishers,” he said.

“While we appreciate the Government’s acknowledgment that our concerns were reasonable and confirmation that the law will not apply until they adopt implementing regulations, they have not provided us with sufficient certainty that the regulatory process will be able to resolve structural issues with the legislation (such as forced payment for links and uncapped financial liability),” he added in his blog.

Earlier, Meta Platforms announced that it will end access to news on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada after the country’s Parliament approved legislation designed to compel internet giants to pay publishers, Al Jazeera reported.

“Today, we are confirming that news availability will be ended on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada prior to the Online News Act taking effect,” Meta said in a statement afterward. (ANI)

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Canada Driven By Vote-Bank Politics: Jaishankar On Khalistani Activities

By LokMarg 28th June 2023

Reacting to the rise in ‘Khalistani’ activities in Canada, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Ottawa seems to be driven by “vote-bank politics” and this has also impacted the ties between the two countries lately.

He was speaking at a town hall meeting at the India International Centre, here in the national capital.
Speaking to the reporters, Jaishankar said, “How Canada has dealt with the Khalistani issue is a longstanding issue for us, because very frankly, they seem to be driven by vote bank politics. Their responses have been constrained by what they regard as vote bank compulsions. We made it very clear that if there are activities which are permitted from Canada that impinge on our sovereignty, territorial integrity and our security, then we will have to respond”.

“It is something which is a continuing conversation with Canada, not always satisfactory, but something on which we have been very clear. And over the last few years, you can see that this has impacted our ties in many ways,” he added.

Notably, there has been a rise in Khalistan activities in Canada lately.

Earlier this month, a tableau parade was organised in Ontario celebrating the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, which drew severe criticism from New Delhi.

In March this year, Khalistan supporters protested outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.

Khalistan supporters in March, protested outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.

Speaking further, Jaishankar hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States, and added that India is also focussing on concluding the free trade agreements with Europe.

“Today, it is a very polarised world, and the global stage is so much more challenging. Our relations with the United States are exceptionally well. We have had the most productive visit in history,” the EAM said.

He added, “We have moved into a positive domain with the US for shaping the world for common purposes. The attention being given to Europe is remarkable. The big issue before us is concluding the free trade agreement, but we are more hopeful than we have been in past”.

The EAM further added that the India-Russia ties have remained steady despite all the turbulence.

“Our relations with Russia have been kept steady despite all turbulence. We have made our own evaluation over the years regarding the importance of this. It is a mistake to dumb down ties with Russia to just defence dependences. We have an upswing in the economic part of our relations with Russia,” he said. (ANI)

US Is Closely Watching Russian Crisis With Allies

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the Foreign Ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the EU, saying they will stay ‘in close coordination’ amid the Russia crisis.

In a statement, a State Department spokesperson on Saturday said, “Secretary Blinken spoke today with Foreign Ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia.”

“Secretary Blinken reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change. The United States will stay in close coordination with Allies and partners as the situation continues to develop,” she added.

This statement came after the Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a Telegram post, announced that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into southern Russia and were ready to go “all the way” against the Russian military.

He said he and his men would destroy anyone who stood in their way. “But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way,” he said, adding, “We are moving forward and will go until the end.”

As the Wagner troops were said to be driving into the Russian city of Rostov, Prigozhin said that border guards greeted his mercenaries, reported ABC News.

He said young conscripts at checkpoints stood back and offered no resistance, adding that his forces “aren’t fighting against children.”

After Prigozhin’s statement, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in a televised address to the nation said that the “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group is a “stab in the back” and vowed to punish those who were on the “path of treason” or anyone who takes up arms against the Russian military.

In the latest development of the case, Prigozhin said that the Russian President is “deeply mistaken” and the group is a patriot, the Washington Post reported.

In an audio message posted by his press service, Prigozhin said on Saturday, “Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president is deeply mistaken”.

Calling Russia, a country of “corruption, deceit and bureaucracy”, he said that the group will continue to fight.”

We are patriots of our motherland, we have been fighting and continue to fight, all Wagner fighters and no one plans to go and confess at the request of the president, the FSB [Federal Security Service] or anyone else, because we do not want the country to continue to live in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy,” the Post quoted Prigozhin. (ANI)

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Canada: Victims Of Air India `Kanishka’ 1985 Bombing Remembered

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

The City of Mississauga office lowered its flags at half-mast on Friday in honour of the 38th anniversary of the 1985 terrorist attack on Air India Flight 182 that killed 329 passengers, most of whom were Canadians.

June 23 is remembered as the National Day of Remembrance for victims of Terrorism.
As Canada observed the Kanishka plane crash anniversary, posters across roads in Greater Toronto areas read: “Khalistan ideology brought the largest act of terrorism on Canadians” and “Deadliest Terror Attack in Canadian History – 329 killed by Khalistani Terrorist”.

Liberal MP Chandra Arya issued a video message on Twitter saying, “Today is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 38 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 operating on the Montreal-London-Delhi-Mumbai route was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members, including 268 Canadian citizens who were mostly Indo-Canadians”.

Calling the attack the “largest mass killing” in Canadian history, Chandra Arya condemned the recent tableau parade in Ontario celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

“The bombing of this Air India Flight is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. It was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism in the world until 9/11. Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. Recent celebrations of the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, attacks on Hindu temples, and honouring the convicted killer of the Air India bombing, all these shows that the dark forces have been energized again and point to dreadful times ahead,” he said on Twitter.

“I strongly urge authorities at all levels of the government to take note that the ideology responsible for the Air India bombing is very active again in Canada. We need to be vigilant. On this National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, my sympathies are with the families of the victims. Their pain never goes away. I stand in solidarity with them,” said Arya.

Canada’s MP Marie-Helene Gaudreau also raised a question in the country’s parliament demanding a public inquiry into the bombing of the Air India flight, which was believed to be the handiwork of Khalistani terrorists.

MP Gaudreau belongs to Canada’s Bloc Quebecois party.

Public Safety Canada’s website stated, “On June 23, 1985, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 en route from Toronto to London, England killing all 329 people aboard, most of them Canadians. Thirty-eight years later, the Air India bombing is still the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.”

It further added that the Canadian government has taken multiple steps to investigate the incident and memorials erected will always stand as a reminder of the horrific attack.

“Since that terrible day in June 1985, the Government of Canada has worked to investigate the crash of Flight 182, to bring the perpetrators of this act to justice, and to make the necessary changes to our policies, regulations and legislation to safeguard Canadians from terror. The Government has also continually adjusted its approach to airline and national security, and security intelligence,” the website stated.

It added, “In 2007, the Government of Canada established a program to erect three new memorials and to refurbish an existing one in Ottawa so that Canadians would never forget the tragedy. The fourth and final memorial was dedicated in Montreal to remember the victims, following those dedicated in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa. These memorials will forever stand as a reminder of the innocent lives lost during a very sad chapter in our shared history.” (ANI)

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Amid Security Concerns, Australia To Ban TikTok On Govt Devices

By LokMarg 4th April 2023

Australia’s federal government will ban the video-sharing application TikTok on government devices over fears that the application’s security could be compromised and the platform could be used for foreign interference by China, ABC News reported.

Australia becomes the last nation in the “five eyes” intelligence alliance to block the app after similar decisions were taken by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced that the ban will come into effect “as soon as practicable.” He further stated that exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis, as per the ABC News report.

In a statement, Mark Dreyfus said, “After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Victorian and ACT governments stated that they expected an imminent ban, as per the news report. A spokesperson for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said they will follow the Commonwealth’s guidance with regard to cybersecurity and they will now work on implementing these changes “across the public service as soon as possible.”

According to the ACT government’s spokesperson, the territory government will work with the government to implement restrictions. In a statement, they said, “The ACT government was notified yesterday of an imminent announcement from the Commonwealth to ban TikTok from Government devices,” as per the news report.

They said that the ACT government will consider similar restrictions on territory government devices at a security and emergency meeting of the cabinet tomorrow, as per the news report. They stressed that the move could be made based on the Commonwealth’s advice, and the desirability of national cybersecurity consistency.

In recent months, several nations have decided to block the app, after revelations that TikTok staff based in the US and China used the app to spy on American journalists who were writing stories critical of the app, as per the ABC News report. US President Joe Biden has said that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance divest in the app or else face a potential nationwide ban in the US.

Earlier in March, the French government banned the Chinese video-sharing application TikTok on government devices, NHK World reported. The French government has reportedly debarred TikTok on the work phones of public-sector employees.

French Public Service Minister Stanislas Guerini declared that TikTok, a Chinese-owned video-sharing software, would no longer be allowed on the work phones of civil servants.”

In order to guarantee the cybersecurity of our administrations and civil servants, the government has decided to ban recreational applications such as TikTok on the professional phones of civil servants,” he tweeted. France’s Transformation and Public Administration Minister Stanislas Guerini made the announcement on Friday. (ANI)

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Sikh Woman Shot Dead Outside Gas Station In Canada

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

A 21-year-old Sikh woman was shot dead in Canada in a shooting incident outside a gas station in Mississauga.

The Peel Regional Police identified the victim as Pawanpreet Kaur on Monday and said that she was an employee of the gas station, CBC reported.
The Peel Regional Police provide policing services for Peel Region in Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest municipal police service in Ontario after the Toronto Police Service.

CBC News is Canada’s publicly owned news and information service.

The police revealed that the victim was from Brampton and added that when officials arrived at the shooting site, they saw the woman with gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were attempted but the woman died.

Police said that they believe it was a targeted incident. The homicide unit has taken over the investigation. Officers are looking for a male suspect, according to CBC News.

According to CBC citing a news release, police said that the suspect was in a three-quarter-length dark winter jacket with a hood, dark winter boots, dark pants, a dark winter toque, and white gloves. It appears that he was smoking a cigarette.

Police said he did not pull the hood up over his head until shortly before shooting the victim at close range.

After canvassing the area for video and interviewing witnesses, police have determined that the suspect was on foot in the area three hours before the shooting.

Earlier, he was seen crossing over Britannia Road, east of the intersection, and crossing Creditview Road, north of the intersection, CBC reported.

After the shooting, he was seen running westbound across Creditview Road, then westbound on Britannia Road, and then westbound onto Camgreen Circle. (ANI)

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