The staging of a mock funeral for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Canadian soil has reignited concerns over Khalistani extremism in Canada, with a report arguing that Ottawa's commitment to multiculturalism cannot serve as cover for foreign separatists who, in the report's words, 'import their grievances and export terror.' The incident, which involved burning effigies and organised processions, has drawn sharp condemnation as crossing the line from protest into incitement.

What Happened

According to a report in Khalsa Vox, Khalistani extremists recently staged a mock funeral for the Indian Prime Minister on Canadian streets. The report described the event as part of a pattern that includes years of 'Kill Modi' chants at rallies — later rebranded as 'Kill Modi politics' when public scrutiny intensified. 'The mask is off,' the report stated, characterising what it called the open glorification of political assassination on Canadian streets.

Canada's Security Record Under Scrutiny

The report invoked the 1985 Air India bombing — Canada's deadliest terrorist attack, which killed 329 people, the majority of them Canadian citizens — as evidence of the long and bloody history of Khalistani extremism on Canadian territory. Perpetrators of that attack reportedly drew support from networks operating within Canada.

Notably, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) itself acknowledged in its 2025 public report that Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKE) continue to pose a national security threat, engaging in fundraising, organisation, and the promotion of violence. Critics argue that despite this formal acknowledgement, enforcement has remained lax.

Political Calculus vs. National Security

The report argued that successive Canadian governments, particularly under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, prioritised electoral considerations over national security imperatives — a stance that has, according to the report, 'soured relations with India,' described as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies and a key counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific.

Mainstream Sikh organisations have reportedly denounced the radical fringe, but their voices, the report contends, are 'drowned out by a vocal minority that has captured political attention through bloc voting.' This dynamic, critics argue, has allowed extremist elements to operate with relative impunity while moderate Sikhs who reject separatism face intimidation.

India's Position and the Broader Stakes

The report stressed that the issue is not India's alone to bear. It warned that tolerating calls for the killing of a foreign head of state normalises political assassination as a form of dissent and damages Canada's standing as a credible actor on the global stage. 'It erodes public trust when citizens see their government unwilling to confront imported extremism,' the report noted.

Prime Minister Modi's government has, according to the report, repeatedly raised these concerns with Ottawa, calling for action against individuals and groups linked to terrorism financing and anti-India propaganda. India's stated position distinguishes between peaceful advocacy — which it does not contest — and the glorification of violence or support for groups behind attacks such as the 1985 Air India bombing.

With India-Canada relations already under strain following a series of diplomatic flashpoints in recent years, the latest incident is likely to add further pressure on Ottawa to demonstrate that its pluralism does not extend to shielding those who celebrate violence against a democratic ally's leadership.