The Bishnoi Gang Terror Designation: A New Chapter in India-Canada Diplomatic Relations

Canada's federal government has recently designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terror entity, describing it as "a transnational criminal organization operating primarily out of India." This development comes shortly before Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand's planned October visit to India. Several provincial governments had previously urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to address the issue, citing fear and intimidation experienced by the South Asian community.

While this designation has attracted attention in India primarily due to Bishnoi's high-profile threats against actor Salman Khan, the diplomatic implications are significant. India-Canada relations deteriorated dramatically in 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that "agents of the Indian government" were involved in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

The diplomatic crisis intensified a year later when Canadian investigations implicated then-Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma. During a press conference, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) specifically highlighted the Bishnoi gang, claiming Indian diplomats shared information about Khalistani separatists with officials in New Delhi, who then passed it to the Bishnoi gang.

These allegations gained traction particularly after Lawrence Bishnoi, despite being incarcerated in India, managed to give a television interview in 2023, raising questions about prison security and his influence despite imprisonment.

India has consistently denied these allegations, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointing out that Canada had ignored India's concerns regarding criminal elements, noting that 26 Indian extradition requests, including individuals associated with the Bishnoi gang, remain pending with Canada.

Despite India's denials, the Bishnoi gang remains central to the contentious security issues related to alleged transnational repression and political interference that Canada attributes to India.

As both countries work toward a pragmatic reset against the backdrop of President Trump's tariff policies, building trust through addressing security concerns remains essential. In preparation for Ananda's visit to New Delhi, Canada's National Security and Intelligence Advisor Natalie Drouin met with her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval last month.

While India's statement on the meeting mentioned discussions on "counter terrorism, combating transnational organised crime and intelligence exchanges," Canada's statement additionally emphasized "non-interference, including refraining from transnational repression." This highlights how both nations view the problem through different lenses. India remains concerned about Khalistani separatists having political space and funding capabilities in Canada, while Ottawa draws a firm line against any targeting of Canadian citizens for their political views.

These divergent security priorities were exemplified by two recent developments: the arrest and subsequent bail of Khalistani separatist Inderjeet Singh Gosal in Canada (portrayed in Indian media as an outcome of the NSAs meeting) and the designation of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terror entity.

Though the Bishnoi gang may be prominent, other gangs also engage in extortion, intimidation, and violence in Canadian cities with significant Indian-origin communities, such as Surrey, Abbotsford, Brampton, and Northeast Calgary. This has led some experts like Jessica Davis, who previously worked on the listings process, to question the specific designation of this particular criminal group as a terror entity.

It appears that factors beyond intimidation, extortion, arson, and violence influenced this designation. Canada continues to prioritize combating foreign interference and transnational repression in its national security agenda, sometimes at odds with India's concerns about Khalistani separatism.

Nevertheless, hope persists as both sides have committed to reciprocal intelligence exchange and mutual responsiveness. A cross-contextual engagement on threat perceptions—one that recognizes the distinct domestic imperatives shaping each country's security approach—would benefit both Ottawa and New Delhi.

(Maha Siddiqui is a journalist who has extensively reported on public policy and global affairs.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author