Khalistanis staged 'ambush' protest against PM Modi 

Khalistani extremists gathered in Kananaskis, Alberta, to stage what they called an "ambush" protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Canada to take part in the G7 summit. PM Modi is currently on a four-day, three-nation tour covering Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia. For the second leg of his tour, he reached Canada today.

During his stay in Canada, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Mark Carney. PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Germany, Italy, and Ukraine on the sidelines of the summit.

Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman, stated prior to PM Modi's visit, a group of Khalistani separatists in Calgary staged intense anti-Modi protests, calling on Canadian PM Mark Carney to "kill Modi politics," and US President Donald Trump to "kill India politics", and going even so far as to call for an attempt to "Balkanise India". Some protesters also stomped aggressively on the Indian flag and tore it. In one video, a man can be seen tearing what appeared to be an Indian Tricolour.

Bordman also said that amid the clamour, three microphones blared simultaneously, each one competing for attention. Incoherent shouting filled the air, while someone stomped aggressively on an Indian flag — an old staple of these protests. As per Bordman, the extremists also made a new anti-Modi song. He added that the song pushed the lines of what is acceptable in Canada.

Earlier this month, the independent journalist Bezirgan was allegedly assaulted and threatened by a group of pro-Khalistan activists in Vancouver while covering their rally.

Bordman heaped praise on Canadian PM Carney for sending an invitation to PM Modi for the 51st G7 Summit, even as he said the Khalistani presence is seemingly waning as economic realities take centre stage in Canada-India relations since Carney took charge of office.

"By inviting PM Modi, it is a pretty hard shift for Mark Carney to distance the Liberal brand from the permissive stance on terrorists and separatists... This is a good first step to counter-radicalisation (sic)," Bordman said.

India has consistently expressed concern over what it sees as Canada’s leniency toward Khalistani extremists and their supporters. Bilateral relations between the two countries hit a new low in recent times, largely due to Ottawa’s perceived inaction on the issue and its accusations against New Delhi of targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.