An article appearing on Russian state media platform, Sputnik titled “US, Canada Seek to ‘Destabilize’ India Through Khalistan Separatist Movement” aims to exploit tensions between Canada and India in efforts to incite anger at Canada and degrade Indian-Canadian relations.
The Claim:
The article makes the false claim that the United States and Canada are intentionally supporting the Khalistan separatist movement to destabilize India.
The Facts:
The Khalistan movement, advocating for an independent Sikh state, has historical roots and has seen varying levels of support within the Sikh diaspora, particularly in countries like Canada and the UK. While some individuals and groups in these countries have expressed support for the movement, there is no evidence to indicate that the U.S. or Canadian governments officially endorse or support Khalistani separatism. In fact, both nations have designated certain Khalistani groups as terrorist organizations and have cooperated with India on counter-terrorism efforts.
Narrative Context:
This claim fits into a broader Russian government anti-Western narratives that portray Western governments as meddling in the internal affairs of other nations to create instability. By suggesting that Canada is backing separatist movements in India, the article aims to sow distrust between Canada and India, and to depict Western nations as hypocritical actors who promote democracy while undermining it elsewhere.
The EU’s Eastern Stratcomm EUvsDisinfo site adds that “this disinformation story appears to be an opportunistic reaction to the allegations made by Canadian authorities on 18 September 2023, claiming to have what they described as “credible evidence” about the involvement of India’s government in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, which included video footage and intelligence shared by the so-called Five Eyes alliance. India’s government has denied the accusations.”
