Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb.
Articles by Anirudh Bhattacharyya
‘Fear is real’, says Canada Liberal Party MP on SFJ video threatening Hindus
Hinduphobic activity has surged in Canada since last summer with at least a dozen temples desecrated with graffiti or anti-India posters by those pushing the so-called Khalistan Referendum. Law enforcement has yet to report a single arrest in this connection
Published on Sep 24, 2023 10:19 AM IST
India-Canada row: Visa suspension will not affect OCI services, says official
India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens citing security threats to its staff in its consulates in Canada
Published on Sep 24, 2023 10:03 AM IST
Trudeau says Canada shared evidence of ‘credible allegations’ with India weeks ago
Trudeau’s charges have led to a series of fallouts, including both countries expelling diplomats. The senior Indian diplomat, who was based in Ottawa, has already left Canada
Updated on Sep 23, 2023 03:06 PM IST
Evidence of ‘credible allegations’ on Nijjar’s killing were shared with India ‘many weeks ago,’ says Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asserted that the “credible allegations” related to the potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Nijjar were communicated to New Delhi “weeks ago.”
Updated on Sep 23, 2023 09:47 AM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Winnipeg police confirm Punjab gangster Sukha Duneke’s death
A release from the Winnipeg Police Service said its Homicide Unit had identified Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke, originally from Moga in Punjab and associated with another major gang figure Arsh Dalla, and “notifications to family members have been made.”
Published on Sep 22, 2023 02:24 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Canadian ministers condemn SFJ video asking Hindus of Indian origin to leave nation
Members of Hindu communities have written to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc seeking security for the country’s Hindu community amid threats from Khalistani elements
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 10:31 AM IST
Nijjar killing: Surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada led to allegations
India-Canada ties news: Some of the intelligence was shared by another nation in the ‘Five Eyes’ alliance.
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 06:16 AM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Allegations not made lightly, says Canada’s Trudeau amid strain in ties
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his call for India to take allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani secessionist Hardeep Singh Nijjar seriously. India has dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and accused Canada of becoming a "safe haven" for terrorists. The growing diplomatic row has led to India temporarily suspending visa services for Canadians. Trudeau stated that there is no question over India's growing importance and that Canada is unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians and standing up for values. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is leading the investigation into Nijjar's killing.
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 12:55 AM IST
Concern, division among diaspora come to the fore
A public video by the Khalistani secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has caused fear among "Hindu Canadians", leading to growing security concerns among the Indian diaspora in Canada. The video, which has since been taken down, showed a designated terrorist asking "Indo-Hindu" people to leave the country. The escalating diplomatic row between India and Canada, sparked by comments from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has led to the suspension of visa services for Canadian nationals by India. A petition has been filed to recognise "Hinduphobia" in Canada's Human Rights Code.
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 12:53 AM IST
India bars visa services for Canadians as tensions rise
The suspension of visa services is also expected to affect a significant section of the 1.6 million Canadians of Indian origin, many of whom have relatives in India
Published on Sep 22, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Hitch, glitch, switch: Kiran Rao’s new film has everyone in splits
Laapataa Ladies is about getting lost and finding yourself. Its wowed Toronto and is headed here soon
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 03:42 PM IST
‘Operational reasons’: India suspends visa services in Canada as rift widens
The suspension of visa services comes a day after an advisory urging Indians in Canada to exercise utmost caution in view of “politically-condoned hate crimes”
Updated on Sep 21, 2023 03:19 PM IST
India suspends visa services for Canadians amid heightened tensions
Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing heightened tensions, triggered a diplomatic row this week
Updated on Sep 21, 2023 11:46 AM IST
Canada cites threats, says adjusting diplomatic staff presence in India
Trudeau’s claim of Indian involvement in Khalistani leade Nijjar’s killing triggered a diplomatic row this week and tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats
Updated on Sep 21, 2023 12:31 PM IST
Nijjar murder: Canada Opp asks Trudeau for India link proof
Canada’s opposition compared the government’s lack of action over allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections to the alacrity with which it approached Nijjar’s killing
Published on Sep 20, 2023 10:21 AM IST
Sikhs for Justice asks Hindus of Indian origin to leave Canada
SFJ’s legal counsel Gurpatwant Pannun issued the threat in a video amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada.
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 11:29 AM IST
Not looking to provoke India, says Canada’s Trudeau after tit-for-tat expulsions
Justin Trudeau’s speech in Canada’s Parliament on Monday was followed by foreign minister Mélanie Joly announcing the expulsion of a “top Indian diplomat”
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 05:22 AM IST
A brief history of the Khalistan movement’s emergence in Canada 45 years ago
Among those who made their base in Canada was Talwinder Singh Parmar, said to be the mastermind of the terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka
Updated on Sep 19, 2023 04:09 PM IST
Indian films win major accolades at TIFF
With top honours in two prestigious categories and another accolade in one of the festival’s most popular sections, Indian productions had a banner year at the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival or TIFF.
Published on Sep 18, 2023 12:11 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Indo-Canadian shot dead in targeted killing in Canada
Canadian police have identified an Indo-Canadian as the victim of what it believes was a targeted killing in the province of British Columbia.
Published on Sep 18, 2023 12:05 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Action thriller Kill gets high praise at TIFF
The most violent and goriest film ever to be produced in India, KILL has awed audiences at its world premiere screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Published on Sep 16, 2023 10:10 AM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
Canada indefinitely postpones trade mission to India amid tensions
Canadian trade mission to India postponed indefinitely due to trade talks suspension and concerns over pro-Khalistan activities.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 12:04 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
SFJ announces another round of Khalistan referendum
The development comes days after the stand taken on pro-Khalistani activities by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre
Published on Sep 14, 2023 11:15 AM IST
Canadian PM Trudeau leaves India after plane’s technical snag resolved
The aircraft currently being used by Justin Trudeau is 36 years old and has caused problems earlier. In October 2016, it returned to Ottawa half an hour after taking off. Trudeau was then travelling to Belgium
Updated on Sep 13, 2023 12:01 AM IST
‘The World Is Family’: Anand Patwardhan’s documentary premieres at Toronto fest
It harks back to the freedom struggle through the lens of interviews with his family, and its deep connection to the movement, and also builds an intimate portrait of his late parents, Nirmala and Balu
Published on Sep 12, 2023 02:43 PM IST
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s plane takes off from Delhi as snag gets cleared
An airport official confirmed that the technical snag of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s flight has got resolved and he has departed from the city at 1pm on Tuesday
Updated on Sep 12, 2023 01:51 PM IST
Khalistan event in Canada hours after PM flags concern
A pro-Khalistani secessionist group in Canada conducted a referendum at a gurdwara in British Columbia, despite concerns from Indian PM Narendra Modi about anti-India elements promoting secessionism. The referendum was organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group led by a designated terrorist, and is the latest in a series of provocative moves by pro-Khalistani groups in Canada. The Indian government did not officially respond to the referendum. Modi expressed India's concerns about continuing anti-India activities in Canada during a bilateral meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
Updated on Sep 12, 2023 12:16 AM IST
SFJ holds Khalistan referendum in Canada as PM Modi flags extremism with Trudeau
The voting took place at a Gurdwara in the town of Surrey, the same gurdwara which was headed by SFJ’s Hardeep Singh Nijjar before he was gunned down on June 18
Updated on Sep 11, 2023 10:43 AM IST
Two films focused on women’s struggles in rural India premier to rousing reception at Toronto festival
The films set in rural India and featuring gutsy young women struggling through a female-unfriendly system have received great reception at their world premieres
Updated on Sep 10, 2023 06:48 PM IST
‘India aiming to become global hub for film production’, says NFDC MD
With a significant presence at the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival or TIFF, India is being promoted as a destination for international cinema, with the Government looking at enhancing incentives to attract filmmakers to the country.
Updated on Sep 09, 2023 09:23 PM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Toronto
