Vancouver [Canada], June 8 (ANI): Independent Canadian investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan has alleged that he was physically assaulted and threatened by a group of Khalistan supporters during their rally in Vancouver. Bezirgan claimed his phone was forcibly taken from him while he was covering the event.
Posting about the incident on social media platform X, Bezirgan described the experience as traumatic and accused the Khalistan supporters of behaving like “thugs.” He stated in a phone interview with ANI, “It just happened two hours ago and I’m still shaking. They acted like thugs—crowding in on me, grabbing my phone, trying to stop me recording.”
Bezirgan said he was targeted for his editorial independence and prior reporting on Khalistan-linked protests. He shared online, “I’ve been surrounded by a group of Khalistanis who grabbed my phone out of my hand and threatened me. Naturally, I’m a bit shaken, but not deterred.”
According to Bezirgan, the Khalistan movement has been responsible for acts of vandalism, intimidation, and violent rhetoric, despite lacking broad support within the Sikh community.
When asked about Khalistani extremism, Bezirgan pointed to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as the main driver of these rallies. He explained that while SFJ mobilizes supporters from local gurdwaras, more established political groups like the World Sikh Organization (WSO) provide political backing within Canada. “Their executives include current and former MPs and ministers, who have spread influence across Canadian institutions,” he said.
Bezirgan also criticized the silence of Canadian politicians regarding extremist rhetoric. He noted that leaders from the Conservative Party, the NDP, and the Liberal Party recently attended a Nagar Kirtan in Surrey, BC, where they shared a stage with Santokh Singh Kelha, a convicted Sikh Canadian involved in a past bomb plot.
Condemning the glorification of violence by Khalistan supporters, Bezirgan claimed these groups openly discuss plans to target Indian leaders. “They speak about ambushing and killing India’s Prime Minister Modi, referencing the assassins of Indira Gandhi as their ‘forefathers’. They say they are the descendants of her killers and glorify those acts.”
He expressed deep concern over the lack of media coverage and political accountability in Canada. “It is disturbing that Canadian politicians continue to associate with such extremists, despite their violent history and inflammatory rhetoric,” he said, warning that this negligence risks emboldening extremist ideologies and escalating diplomatic tensions with India.
Bezirgan called for urgent action from elected leaders. “As a citizen, I expect my representatives to distance themselves from extremists and those with violent pasts. Ignoring these issues only strengthens these groups.”
He also recalled a similar experience in March 2024, when he covered a protest in Edmonton where Khalistan supporters, reportedly armed with daggers, swords, and spears, gathered to protest against India’s High Commissioner to Canada.
Meanwhile, diplomatic focus between the two nations continues to be tested. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed on June 6 that he would attend the upcoming G-7 Summit in Canada, following an invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a recent phone conversation. (ANI)
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