On September 26, 2025, the simmering tensions between India and the global Khalistani separatist movement erupted once again, as Inderjeet Singh Gosal—a prominent activist and Canadian coordinator for Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)—walked free from Ontario Central East Correctional Centre. Within hours, Gosal, flanked by the controversial SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, made headlines by posting a provocative video outside the prison gates. In the clip, Gosal directly threatened India’s sovereignty and boldly declared, “Delhi banega Khalistan,” signaling his intent to organize a Khalistan referendum on November 23, 2025.
Gosal’s release came less than a week after his arrest alongside Jagdeep Singh of Pickville, New York, and Arman Singh of Toronto. The trio was apprehended by the Ontario Provincial Police on September 19, 2025, after their vehicle was stopped in Oshawa and authorities discovered firearms, resulting in a total of 36 weapons-related charges. Despite the serious nature of these charges—concealing and carrying firearms for dangerous purposes—Gosal was granted bail, a move that has stirred debate across both Canadian and Indian circles.
The video that followed Gosal’s release did not just reiterate his separatist agenda. It also featured Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the legal advisor and de facto head of SFJ, who has long been a thorn in the side of Indian authorities. Pannun, a US-Canada-based lawyer and a designated terrorist by India, issued a direct challenge to India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval. “Ajit Doval, why don’t you come to Canada, America, or any European country and try to arrest or extradite me? I am waiting for you,” Pannun taunted, his words echoing across the diaspora and drawing swift condemnation from Indian officials.
Pannun’s history of provocation is well documented. He has previously offered a staggering ₹11 crore reward to anyone who could prevent the hoisting of the Indian flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day. More recently, in a video message circulated ahead of Diwali, Pannun warned Sikhs in Punjab against celebrating the festival of lights, threatening dire consequences and urging them instead to observe Bandi Chhod Divas—a move widely seen as a divisive attempt to alienate Sikhs from their fellow Indians. “By warning Punjabis not to light diyas on Diwali, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has crossed a moral and political red line,” noted an editorial published in The Indian Express, highlighting the growing unease within India about Pannun’s rhetoric and tactics.
SFJ, the organization at the center of these controversies, has been banned in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Yet, it continues to operate from North America, exploiting the freedoms of Western democracies to stage referendums, spread propaganda, and issue threats against Indian institutions and leaders. According to a 2025 Canadian government report on terror financing, two prominent Khalistani groups—Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation—continue to receive financial support from Canada. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) confirmed in June 2025 that Canada remains a base for Khalistani extremists who promote, fundraise, and plan acts of violence, primarily targeting India. This marked the first time Canadian authorities publicly labeled such activity as “extremism.”
The impact of these developments goes far beyond fiery videos and social media posturing. For many in Punjab, the memories of the bloody militancy of the late 1970s to early 1990s are still raw. Thousands of lives were lost to terrorism during that period, and the majority of Sikhs in India today want nothing more than peace, prosperity, and stability. “Punjab, scarred by two decades of militancy, has moved on. Its people…crave peace, prosperity, and stability. For them, Khalistan is not a dream but a nightmare of the past,” observed The Indian Express.
Yet, Pannun and his associates persist, leveraging the openness of Western democracies to keep the embers of the separatist project alive. Their activities have become a persistent irritant in India’s diplomatic relations with Canada and the United States. India has repeatedly lodged formal protests with both Ottawa and Washington, urging them to restrain individuals and groups using their soil to undermine Indian sovereignty. These concerns were front and center at the 2025 G7 summit in Canada, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, met for the first time in person. The leaders agreed to appoint new High Commissioners and resume stalled trade negotiations, emphasizing a “constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for concerns and sensitivities,” according to a statement from New Delhi.
The issue is further complicated by ongoing investigations into the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan activist. Four individuals were arrested in May 2024 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy, underscoring the security concerns surrounding Khalistani activities abroad. These developments have only heightened Indian anxieties about the safety of its citizens and the perceived lack of action by foreign governments to curb extremist activities on their soil.
For the Sikh diaspora, the situation is a double-edged sword. Sikhs have achieved remarkable success across Canada, the US, and the UK, contributing significantly to politics, business, and public life. Yet, the actions of a fringe group risk tarnishing the reputation of the wider community. “Allowing a fringe separatist narrative to dominate public perception risks undoing decades of goodwill and hard-earned respect,” cautioned The Indian Express. Many Sikhs abroad recognize that threats and intimidation not only discredit their community but also run counter to the universal message of Sikhism—equality, compassion, and justice.
It is crucial, as commentators have stressed, to distinguish between the legitimate right to dissent and the illegitimacy of terror and intimidation. Every people have the right to articulate aspirations for self-determination, as reflected in the UN Charter. But, as the editorial noted, “the methods used to pursue such aspirations matter as much as the goals.” When advocacy crosses the line into threats against ordinary citizens or calls for violence, it loses both moral and political legitimacy.
Looking ahead, many voices within the Sikh community and beyond are calling for a reaffirmation of peaceful advocacy and democratic processes. “The path forward lies in reaffirming what has always been true: that differences of opinion, even on questions as profound as statehood, must be addressed through dialogue, democratic processes, and peaceful advocacy. Violence, intimidation, and threats have no place in the discourse of civilized societies,” the editorial urged.
As India and its partners navigate these turbulent waters, the stakes are high—not just for bilateral relations, but for the global image of the Sikh community and the credibility of the democracies that host such movements. The coming months, especially as the November 23 referendum date approaches, will test the resolve of governments, communities, and individuals alike to reject intimidation and uphold the principles of peaceful dissent.