A Canadian man was detained in India, raising concerns about the country’s treatment of Sikhs and its growing blacklist.
Banwait, a Canadian citizen for nearly 50 years, has traveled to India many times. He’s never had issues before. But this time was different. He described the experience as painful. They locked him in a room with armed guards.
He recently had heart surgery and suffers from back pain. The cold made it worse. He claims he wasn’t allowed to use the washroom without help. An officer even called him a “Khalistani,” which is a term for supporters of a Sikh separatist movement. That really hurt him.
He’s speaking out because he fears other Sikh Canadians might face the same fate. They could be detained without knowing until it’s too late. Imagine spending a lot of money on a ticket, only to be held in custody.
Banwait said, “Nobody listens to you. They’ll put you in jail and you’re gone.” The Indian consulate and High Commission in Canada didn’t respond to requests for comments. Global Affairs Canada knows about the situation but can’t help with immigration issues.
India has a history of using a blacklist to mark people as inadmissible. The number of Canadians on this list has been rising, especially after Prime Minister Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of a Sikh activist.
Lawyers say India is using visas to manipulate people. They pressure individuals to act in certain ways to get a visa. This practice is seen as foreign interference. The Indian government is targeting critics and those associated with movements like Khalistan.
Banwait is unsure if his visa is still valid. He wonders if his past arrest in 1986 is the reason for his deportation, even though he was acquitted. He thinks it might be related to an event he attended about Sikh history.
He’s worried about being permanently barred from India. That would affect his charity and family. He often thinks about what he did wrong, feeling confused and anxious.
Another case involves Angad Singh, an American journalist who was blacklisted for his work on a documentary. He’s fighting in court to understand why he was denied entry. His experience shows how visas are being weaponized against certain groups.
