Two Canadian government officials, British Columbia Premier David Eby and Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan have independently written to Prime Minister Mark Carney with a direct request: To designate the India-linked Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. This push isn’t happening in a vacuum. It follows months of growing concern over transnational repression, rising threats to public safety, and alarming intelligence pointing toward foreign interference in Canada’s domestic affairs.
A Gang Beyond Borders
Lawrence Bishnoi, a name that has increasingly surfaced in global headlines, is not just an underworld figure operating within India. His criminal network has been accused of orchestrating extortion schemes, targeted killings, and violent threats—including in Canada. In provinces like British Columbia and Ontario, where sizable South Asian communities live, this gang’s footprint has become a source of anxiety—particularly for Sikh Canadians. Premier Eby’s letter calls attention to exactly that. He cites recent extortion campaigns aimed at South Asian business owners in B.C., painting a picture of intimidation that’s no longer limited to whispers, it’s now backed by violence and fear.
A Political and Security Flashpoint
MP Jenny Kwan’s letter raises the stakes even higher. She demands not only a terror designation for the Bishnoi network, but also a complete suspension of Canada’s security cooperation with India. Kwan references ongoing investigations into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist whose murder has been linked by Canadian intelligence services to Indian state actors.
Kwan’s letter doesn’t mince words: it calls for India’s cooperation in the investigation and urges a full review of Canada’s Foreign Agents Registry, which oversees the activity of foreign operatives within Canadian borders. She even highlights threats to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who was reportedly placed under RCMP protection after being tracked by an alleged Indian government-linked agent connected to the Bishnoi gang.
What’s Behind the Push?
The recent calls come in the wake of new intelligence disclosures from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the RCMP, which allegedly confirm India’s involvement in extrajudicial killings and cross-border political suppression. This includes direct links between Indian state-backed operatives and criminal gangs like Bishnoi’s, which, if true, represent a disturbing use of criminal proxies to silence dissent and suppress activism abroad. For both Kwan and Eby, the central issue is national security. They argue that failure to label the Bishnoi group as a terrorist organization not only undermines Canadian law enforcement but also puts minority communities, especially Sikhs, at risk.
Why It Matters
This demand for terrorist designation is not merely symbolic. It would allow Canadian authorities to freeze assets, monitor networks more closely, and restrict movement and funding associated with the gang. It would also send a message: that Canada is taking threats to its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens seriously, regardless of where the threats originate or who they’re aligned with.
At its core, this isn’t just about one gang or one case, it’s about how democracies respond to covert foreign influence and protect communities vulnerable to transnational threats. As the pressure builds, the ball now rests in Prime Minister Carney’s court.
Bishnoi Gang Faces Canadian Scrutiny Over Security Threats
Two Canadian government officials, British Columbia Premier David Eby and Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan have independently written to Prime Minister Mark Carney with a direct request: To designate the India-linked Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization. This push isn’t happening in a vacuum. It follows months of growing concern over transnational repression, rising threats to public safety, and alarming intelligence pointing toward foreign interference in Canada’s domestic affairs.
A Gang Beyond Borders
Lawrence Bishnoi, a name that has increasingly surfaced in global headlines, is not just an underworld figure operating within India. His criminal network has been accused of orchestrating extortion schemes, targeted killings, and violent threats—including in Canada. In provinces like British Columbia and Ontario, where sizable South Asian communities live, this gang’s footprint has become a source of anxiety—particularly for Sikh Canadians. Premier Eby’s letter calls attention to exactly that. He cites recent extortion campaigns aimed at South Asian business owners in B.C., painting a picture of intimidation that’s no longer limited to whispers, it’s now backed by violence and fear.
A Political and Security Flashpoint
MP Jenny Kwan’s letter raises the stakes even higher. She demands not only a terror designation for the Bishnoi network, but also a complete suspension of Canada’s security cooperation with India. Kwan references ongoing investigations into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist whose murder has been linked by Canadian intelligence services to Indian state actors.
Kwan’s letter doesn’t mince words: it calls for India’s cooperation in the investigation and urges a full review of Canada’s Foreign Agents Registry, which oversees the activity of foreign operatives within Canadian borders. She even highlights threats to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who was reportedly placed under RCMP protection after being tracked by an alleged Indian government-linked agent connected to the Bishnoi gang.
What’s Behind the Push?
The recent calls come in the wake of new intelligence disclosures from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the RCMP, which allegedly confirm India’s involvement in extrajudicial killings and cross-border political suppression. This includes direct links between Indian state-backed operatives and criminal gangs like Bishnoi’s, which, if true, represent a disturbing use of criminal proxies to silence dissent and suppress activism abroad. For both Kwan and Eby, the central issue is national security. They argue that failure to label the Bishnoi group as a terrorist organization not only undermines Canadian law enforcement but also puts minority communities, especially Sikhs, at risk.
Why It Matters
This demand for terrorist designation is not merely symbolic. It would allow Canadian authorities to freeze assets, monitor networks more closely, and restrict movement and funding associated with the gang. It would also send a message: that Canada is taking threats to its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens seriously, regardless of where the threats originate or who they’re aligned with.
At its core, this isn’t just about one gang or one case, it’s about how democracies respond to covert foreign influence and protect communities vulnerable to transnational threats. As the pressure builds, the ball now rests in Prime Minister Carney’s court.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
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