Toronto– Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman has said that public sentiment in Canada has shifted significantly against the Khalistani movement, which he claims played a major role in straining Canada-India relations in 2023 and damaging Canada’s international image.
Bordman’s comments came as hundreds of Khalistani activists staged protests in Alberta against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently attending the G7 summit in Canada as a special guest. Other world leaders at the summit include U.S. President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Among the protesters, Khalistani leader Manjinder Singh sparked outrage by making incendiary remarks, including threats to “ambush Modi” and “kill India’s PM Modi’s politics.”
In an interview with IANS, Bordman criticized the protests as incoherent and increasingly out of touch with mainstream Canadian views. “I’ve been to an ‘Ambush Modi’ protest. They said they ambushed Modi—but he wasn’t even near them,” he said. “Khalistanis are into performative theatrics, and ordinary Canadians are just terribly confused as to why they’re shouting so much.”
Bordman explained that the Khalistani movement reached peak influence in 2023 amid the controversy surrounding Hardeep Singh Nijjar and what he described as a Canadian government “deeply infiltrated” by individuals with extremist affiliations.
“At the end of 2023, Khalistan had maximum strength because you had a Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau, with people in Cabinet who had connections to extremist backgrounds,” he said. “You also had Jagmeet Singh, an open Khalistani sympathizer, supporting the government.”
Bordman argued this political environment fueled a diplomatic rift with India and diminished Canada’s credibility on the global stage. “It made the country look a bit silly—with people waving swords and tearing down flags. It definitely hurt our standing,” he added.
However, he said public awareness of Khalistani extremism has grown, and attitudes among Canadians have changed accordingly.
“It’s actually refreshing that people now understand what the Khalistani movement is—and have developed a pretty negative view of it,” Bordman said. “The movement doesn’t enjoy the same public sympathy it once did.”
He also pointed to growing frustration among Canadian citizens, who increasingly see Khalistani leaders as destabilizing figures rather than legitimate activists. “If you need someone to run drugs across the country, you know who to call,” he said sarcastically. “If you need a stable, functioning nation—do not call Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.” (Source: IANS)