Sikh activist calls for support in UK as tensions rise amid India-Canada row.
Amid a diplomatic row between Canada and India over the killing of a Canadian Sikh in British Columbia, a Scottish Sikh councillor has called for support as he revealed the concerns of activists in the UK.
Gurpreet Johal, a lawyer and councillor in West Durbartonshire, said his friend Avtar Singh Khanda, a Sikh activist, died in June after becoming the target of a media campaign against him in India.
Mr Johal, whose brother has allegedly been tortured while arbitrarily detained in India, said he was left “heartbroken” at the sudden death of Mr Khanda in Birmingham.
Mr Khanda, 35, was known for his work campaigning for a breakaway Sikh homeland and his family said he died of acute myeloid leukaemia.
However, since his sudden death, rumours of foul play have arisen. His mother, Charanjeet Kaur, said: “My son was killed by poisoning. I mean, who develops and succumbs to cancer within just four days? Cancer doesn’t manifest within such a short span.”
The last time Mr Johal saw him in person was on 4 June in London. On 11 June, Mr Khanda was taken to hospital in Birmingham and he died early in the morning on 15 June.
Mr Johal said: “That’s a very short space of time for somebody who was healthy. To very quickly find out that he was unwell and then that he passed away that quickly was heartbreaking and very suspicious,” Mr Johal said, before adding: “Personally I do feel there is some malicious activity taking place.”
However, Sikhs in the UK say they are increasingly coming under pressure as India calls on the UK to do more to stamp out “extremism” in the community.
It comes after the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, a week ago said there were “serious” allegations that may link Indian government agents to the killing of a Sikh in British Columbia. India’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegation as “absurd and motivated”.
The UK said it was in “close touch with Canadian partners” regarding the claims, according to a spokesman for the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, but that it would not have an impact on trade talks with India.