Canada accuses India of collaborating with Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani elements
Ottawa: Canada has made fresh accusations against India, claiming that it is involved in "serious criminal activity" on Canadian soil and is working with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani individuals. These allegations come at a time when Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, is making headlines for his alleged involvement in the murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, who was killed in Mumbai last week.
Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner of Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stated that India is specifically targeting the pro-Khalistani community in Canada through organised crime groups, with the Bishnoi gang playing a key role. Gauvin remarked, "From an RCMP perspective, we have observed India using organised crime elements, particularly the Bishnoi Group, which we believe is linked to agents of the Indian government."
Despite being incarcerated in Gujarat's Sabarmati jail on drug charges, Bishnoi has been accused of orchestrating high-profile murders, including Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala in 2022 and Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi in 2023. He is also allegedly connected to firing incidents outside the residences of Canadian singers A P Dhillon and Gippy Garewal.
On Monday, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing their involvement in a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. This came soon after India announced the expulsion of six Canadian High Commission members in Delhi. Tensions between the two countries have escalated since last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
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Will take legal course if film is stopped: Vivek Agnihotri on release of 'The Bengal Files' in WB
Kolkata, Aug 18 (PTI): Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Monday said he would go the legal route if the release of his film "The Bengal Files" is stalled in West Bengal.
The trailer launch of the film in Kolkata was disrupted on Saturday. Agnihotri claimed the event was first cancelled by a multiplex and then moved to a hotel where power supply was disrupted and police turned up asking if permission had been taken.
"We will go by the Constitution. We will go legally. If they stop us, we will take the legal course. What can we do? We are common citizens like you... We will pray that sanity prevails and the state government does not do it (stop the release)," the filmmaker said at a press conference here while hitting out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal.
"The Bengal Files", which is slated for release on September 5, revolves around the Calcutta riots of August 16, 1946, which were triggered after the All-India Muslim League called for 'Direct Action Day' to demand a separate homeland.
"...This is an Indian film. I am telling you the truth," Agnihotri said.
Known for films such as "The Kashmir Files" and "The Tashkent Files", Agnihotri also addressed the many controversies surrounding his latest release, including an FIR by Gopal Chandra Mukherjee's grandson Santanu Mukherjee.
Gopal Mukherjee is said to have played a pivotal role in the resistance against the Muslim mob violence in 1946. Santanu claims Agnihotri's film refers to his grandfather as a butcher.
Agnihotri said Gopal Mukherjee in his film is an inspired character and not central to the plot.
"I will not go into his history. Watch Santanu's interview. I can give you all the links. There is an interview of Gopal Mukherjee on BBC. In that interview, what he has said, we have only shown that much. I have nothing to do with Gopal Mukherjee's life, politics. He was a hero and I have shown him as a hero," he said.
"I respect Gopal Mukherjee a lot. His grandsons work with TMC. There is a compulsion there... They have done it legally. We are giving a legal answer to that," he said.
Agnihotri claimed the film is his attempt to reveal hidden truths. He said he aims at showing "the untold stories of India".
"Our purpose is very clear. I make films on Hindu civilization. That is why I make films on Hindu history. I do not consider myself capable of making films on Islamic history or Christian history," he said, adding that filmmakers like Mani Ratnam and Vishal Bhardwaj have already made movies on the Islamic history of Kashmir through "Roja" and "Haider".
Agnihotri said the censor board passed "The Bengal Files" without any cuts though it went through the examining committee and then the revising committee.
"This film was made with a lot of responsibility and sincerity. No one can object to this. Bengalis will be proud of this film."
"The Bengal Files" stars Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Darshan Kumar.
