The influence of the World Sikh Organization (WSO) in Canadian politics and government has long been a topic of discussion. The name of WSO's founder, Gyan Singh Sandhu, came up during the investigation into the 1985 Air India bombings. The incident is one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Canadian history, killing 329 people.
Mocha Bezirgan, an independent journalist based in Calgary, Canada, told in her X post that Gyan Singh Sandhu was called for questioning by the “Disaster Task Force” of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Canada at that time. Although there were never any official charges against Sandhu, the name of his organization and some of its members has always been in controversies. Regarding this incident, WSO has repeatedly said that the Indian government should be blamed, while all experts believe that it was a conspiracy by Khalistani elements.
Air India bombings and role of WSO
Talwinder Singh Parmar, considered the conspirator of the 1985 Air India bombings, was a prominent face of the Khalistani separatist movement. It is believed that he established close relationships with some members of the WSO. According to Bezirgan, Parmar's brother Kulwant Singh Parmar had founded Khalsa Credit Union, of which Sandhu was also a co-founder. The objective of this union was to promote the economic interests of the Sikh community, but its founders' links with the Khalistani movement were always controversial.
Khalsa Credit Union co-founder Prem Vining is known as a “powerbroker” of the powerful Liberal Party. Along with him, the name of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was arrested in connection with the 1985 bomb blasts, also comes up. Malik was assassinated in 2022, and the incident again drew attention to the links between the WSO and Khalistani elements.
Political influence of WSO
The WSO, despite being a global Sikh organization, wields deep influence in Canadian politics. The objective of this organization is to protect the rights and interests of the Sikh community in Canada and other western countries. But many of its members, especially its founder, are also known for their support of Khalistan. In Canadian politics, the relationship between Trudeau's Liberal Party and the NDP coalition government and the WSO has also been under suspicion.
WSO members have close ties to various political parties, and the Canadian government has at times been accused of being soft on Khalistani elements. In particular, when there was a public inquiry into the Air India bombings, the WSO tried to prove that the Indian government was behind the incident, and not the Khalistani Sikhs.
Malik's murder and current political climate in 2022
The assassination of Ripudaman Singh Malik in 2022 reignited tensions between pro-Khalistani groups and their opponents in Canada. Malik was acquitted in the Air India bombing case in 2005, but even after his acquittal, he remained surrounded by controversies. The reason behind Malik's murder is not yet completely clear, but it has once again raised questions about Khalistani activities and their political hold in Canada.
Questions over relationship between Trudeau-NDP government and WSO
The WSO's relationship with the Trudeau-NDP government of Canada is also a topic of discussion. Due to the close ties between WSO leaders and government officials, many believe that the organization is using its power to influence the government. Furthermore, the WSO has used various means to maintain support for the Khalistani ideology in Canada.
WSO has always tried to hold the Indian government responsible instead of Khalistani groups in the case of Air India bombings. This situation raises questions about the credibility of the Canadian government, especially when the Trudeau government does not appear to be taking any concrete action towards Khalistani supporters.
filled with Khalistani
Former Defense Minister and current Emergency Preparedness Minister, Harjit Sajjan also has connections to this organization. Kundan Sajjan, father of minister Harjit Sajjan, was a member of the executive board of the WSO. Like the children of other WSO executive board members, his son was given a powerful position in the Liberal government, that of Defense Minister. Prem Vining, former president of the WSO and business partner of Gyan Singh Sandhu, hired his son Manjeet Vining to work as a senior special assistant under Harjit Sajjan.
Following the 2015 elections, Edmonton's current mayor Amarjit Sohi was appointed Minister of Infrastructure. Sohi was jailed in India for being a Khalistani terrorist. In 1988, after spending 21 months in jail, Sohi was released due to lack of evidence. Prem Vining sent his second son Gurpreet Vining to work as a special assistant under Sohi. Harjeet Sajjan not only has family ties to the WSO, but he also has family ties to Gyan Singh Sandhu himself. Harjinder Singh Sandhu, son of WSO's founding president Gyan Singh Sandhu, is married to Harjeet Sajjan's sister Amarjeet Kaur Sandhu née Sajjan.
The journalist says the World Sikh Organization is highly influential at all levels of government in Canada. One of its goals is to promote the establishment of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan in India. The strength of its influence in Canadian politics has not been fully scrutinized by the media, leaving the Canadian public unaware of its power, political agenda and troubling history.
The history of the influence of the World Sikh Organization and its elements associated with Khalistani ideology in Canadian politics is a complex and controversial topic. The roles and connections of Gyan Singh Sandhu and other prominent Khalistani supporters have influenced Canadian politics. Despite this, the lack of action by the Canadian government and the controversies associated with the WSO have created skepticism among the public. Unless the Government of Canada shows transparency on this issue and conducts an impartial investigation of all aspects, the issue of WSO and the influence of Khalistani elements will remain serious.
