In a recent development, a secret memorandum obtained by The Intercept has shed light on India's efforts to crack down on Sikh diaspora organizations in Western countries. The memo, issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs in April 2023, instructed its consulates in North America to take "concrete measures" against Sikh dissident groups, including the Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was subsequently assassinated in Vancouver two months later.

The leaked document titled "Action Points on Khalistan Extremism" noted India's concerns about Sikh activist organizations and their impact on the country's reputation. It identified Sikh organizations involved in "anti-India propaganda" and acts of arson and vandalism targeting Indian interests in North America. The memo specifically mentioned several groups, including Sikhs for Justice, Babbar Khalsa International, Sikh Youth of America, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, World Sikh Parliament, and Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar America.

While Nijjar and others were named as "suspects" affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International, it is important to highlight that the latter is proscribed as a terrorist organization in the U.S. and Canada, while the other organizations mentioned are considered legal in both countries.

Notably, the leaked memo did not explicitly order the killings of Sikh activists. Instead, it called for cooperation between Indian consular officials and intelligence agencies such as the Research and Analysis Wing, the National Investigation Agency, and the Intelligence Bureau. The Indian government has denied the existence of the memo, claiming it is part of a "sustained disinformation campaign against India."

The revelation comes as both the U.S. and Canada have charged India with orchestrating assassinations against Sikhs in the West. This secret memorandum provides the first public evidence that India was specifically targeting Sikh diaspora organizations and dissidents.

Sikh diaspora advocates highlighted that the Indian government often portrays political activity by Sikh separatist organizations as militant or extremist in nature. They argue that such narratives serve as a pretext for repressive security measures and crackdowns on Sikh political organizing.

India's crackdown on Sikh activists is a response to the ongoing campaign advocating for an independent Sikh state in the Indian province of Punjab. The conflict over separatism in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s claimed the lives of thousands and involved human rights abuses by Indian security forces as well as acts of terrorism by separatist militants.

Despite the suppression of Sikh separatism within India, the movement continues to exist in the diaspora as a political movement that organizes protests and lobbies against the Indian government. The secret memorandum highlights India's concerns about reputational harm and the influence of Sikh organizations in Western politics.

The Indian government has frequently expressed concerns about the activities of Sikh diaspora activists to the Canadian and U.S. governments, accusing these groups of terrorism. Sikh activists have organized major protests at Indian diplomatic missions, some of which have involved provocative denunciations of Indian officials and vandalism of diplomatic buildings. India has criticized the alleged failure of Western governments to protect its consular staff during these demonstrations.

With the revelations from the leaked memorandum, the focus intensifies on India's targeting of Sikh activists and dissidents, prompting further scrutiny into the actions and motives of the Indian government.

Disclaimer: This news article is based on the information shared in the provided context and does not aim to present a comprehensive analysis of the situation.