WATCH: Khalistani Protesters Raise Provocative Slogans, Tear Indian Flag In Viral Video During G7 Summit In Canada

Calgary: A protest rally organised by Khalistani leaders in Calgary ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival for the G7 summit took a provocative turn on Monday, June 16.

A video of the demonstration, which has now gone viral, shows the protesters raising objectionable "Kill Modi" slogans and tearing the Indian flag on camera.

Have a look:

The protesters, largely from the Khalistani movement, gathered outside Calgary City Hall, one of the designated protest zones, waving blue and yellow Khalistan flags. Posters condemned PM Modi, with one depicting him in handcuffs and another behind bars reading, “I killed Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.”

PM Modi is among the non-member leaders invited to the summit held in Kananaskis by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Khalistani Protesters Call For Referendum, Justice

The demonstration was led by over 100 Sikhs, including prominent members of Sikhs for Justice. Co-founder Bakshish Singh Sandhu said Modi’s presence in Canada was a chance to “hold India responsible.” Speaking to reporters, Sandhu urged the G7 to press Modi for a Khalistan referendum, claiming it was a step toward ending what he called Punjab’s “occupation.”

Another protester said that Canada had enabled Sikhs to confront Modi head-on during his visit, describing it as a rare opportunity to "ambush him over the next 48 hours," with hopes that livestreamed demonstrations would catch the attention of G7 leaders.

The call for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland, is a persistent flashpoint between Canada’s large Sikh diaspora and India. Tensions escalated last year when Canadian authorities accused Indian agents of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

Monday’s protests were conducted under heavy police monitoring, with officials urging demonstrators to stay within approved zones to avoid arrest. Simultaneously in Banff, smaller protests targeted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel’s war on Gaza, and environmental concerns.

Published on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:18 AM IST