Canada Border Services Agency has given a clean chit to its officer and also reinstated him in his post after being targeted by the Indian media with allegations of terrorism — allegations Canadian authorities say are not backed by any evidence, CBC has reported.
While Sundeep “Sunny” Singh Sidhu has been reinstated in his post with the CBSA, his lawyers say the government of Canada should have defended him more vigorously from a foreign government accused of mounting a hostile disinformation campaign in this country.
Sidhu has worked for the CBSA for two decades. He told CBC News he does not wear a turban, is not particularly religious and has no connections to Sikh separatist politics.
Nevertheless, last month Sidhu found his name and image plastered across multiple Indian news outlets citing Indian government sources. The Hindustan Times described Sidhu as “a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), accused of promoting terrorist activities in Punjab.”
The paper also claimed that Sidhu “allegedly had ties with Pakistan-based Khalistan terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other [Pakistani intelligence] operatives, reportedly playing a role in the 2020 assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu.”
“It’s almost laughable,” said Sidhu. “It’s like the alphabet soup of criminal organizations. I have zero links to any of these organizations. I’ve never supported these organizations. I don’t know any members in these organizations,” he told CBC in an interview.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemned India’s disinformation campaign targeting Sidhu. “Sidhu, a CBSA officer for the past two decades, was accused by the Government of India and its media of murder and terrorism. Figures like Gaurav Arya, a former Indian military officer and pro-Modi influencer, have irresponsibly identified several Canadian Sikhs as “terrorists” and incited violence, even revealing Sidhu’s personal information to the public. Arya’s actions, coupled with India’s ongoing spread of disinformation, endanger the lives of Canadians and create false suspicions about individuals and communities,” WSO said in a statement.
WSO President Danish Singh said,
“The false accusations and Indian disinformation campaign against Mr. Sidhu are part of an ongoing effort by India to malign Sikhs in Canada and to create confusion and dread in our community. India is consistently acting like a hostile and rogue country and continues to target Sikhs in Canada. Our government must hold India accountable for its ongoing foreign interference activities and protect those whose lives are being put in danger.
Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar and others who have received duties to warn have not been provided with any meaningful way of protecting themselves. That must change right away. We urge Canadian authorities to provide heightened security for those at risk and to push back against foreign disinformation campaigns.”
