The global Sikh organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in partnership with the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Temple, has established a so-called “Embassy of the Republic of Khalistan” in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

The symbolic diplomatic mission, marked by a signboard reading “Republic of Khalistan,” operates from a building within the gurdwara complex, a key community hub for Sikhs in the region.

SFJ, a US-based group advocating for a separate Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab region, spearheads the initiative as part of its broader campaign for a non-binding “Khalistan Referendum” to gauge support for Sikh self-determination.

The Surrey gurdwara, once led by Hardeep Singh Nijjar—whom India designated a terrorist before his death—serves as a symbolic location for the “embassy.”

Announced on August 5, 2025, this move has sparked controversy, reigniting tensions between India and Canada at a time when both nations seek to mend diplomatic ties strained since the 2023 killing of Nijjar.

Sikh community leaders in Canada frame the “embassy” as a bold step to assert Sikh rights and highlight their quest for self-determination.