After cold treatment meted out to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the G20 summit in Delhi, he alleged the involvement of the Indian government agents in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.
Canada also expelled a senior Indian diplomat following the allegation. India rejected Trudeau’s claim, calling it “absurd and motivated”. India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and expelled Canada’s Station chief for intelligence.
Amid the heightening tension between both countries, several social media users have recalled that Modi could be the next Indira Gandhi and claimed that Sikh soldiers have been sent on leave from Rashtrapati Bhavan.
An X user shared the screengrab of a Wikipedia article, which talked about the assassination of Indira Gandhi by his bodyguard in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. The user also shared images of PM Modi, Indira Gandhi and a poster of Khalistan with the caption, “The Modi could be Next Indira ??? Sikh soldiers were forcibly sent on leave, After @JustinTrudeau speech on Indian government involvement in leader #HardeepSinghNijjar assassination & the ensuing anger in the Sikh community,#Sikh security personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan replaced.”
South Check probe found that the claim is false.
We ran a relevant keyword search but did come across any report by credible media organisations about Sikh security personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan being sent on leave or being replaced. Had it been true, the media would have reported.
During our investigation, we found a tweet by the Indian Army on its X handle, refuting the claim. The clarification post read, “Fake messages are being spread on social media by inimical agents about soldiers of #IndianArmy, spreading rumours & hate-mongering. Safeguard yourselves against such fake news.”
The Fact Check handle of PIB also put out a clarification on X, stating that the claim is fake. It said that the claim about Sikh security personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan being replaced after the assassination of Hardeep Singh is “fake and is being shared to create disharmony.”
Indira Gandhi was assassinated by his two Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, after Operation Blue Star. The operation was carried out in June 1984 to flush out Damdami Taksal leader and separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his supporters from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, who had taken shelter in the temple.
In June this year, on the eve of the 39th anniversary of ‘Operation Bluestar, a parade by pro-Khalistani elements celebrating the assassination of Indira Gandhi was taken out in Ontario’s Greater Toronto area in Canada. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the incident was not good for relationships and Canada. The Indian high commission in Ottawa had also registered a displeasure to Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian foreign ministry.
Hence, we conclude that the claim that Sikh security personnel at Rashtrapati Bhavan are being sent on leave or being replaced is false. The claim comes amid the heightening tension between Canada and India over the allegation of Canada giving safe haven to pro-Khalistani elements under the Trudeau regime.
