In the heart of Surrey, British Columbia, the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) held a high-profile press conference on January 14, 2026, under the banner “STOP THE CRIME.” Led by MPs Arpan Khanna, Jasraj Singh Hallan, and Larry Brock, the event aimed to spotlight the escalating extortion crisis plaguing South Asian communities. The CPC painted a vivid picture of fear: business owners receiving chilling WhatsApp threats, drive-by shootings shattering windows, and families forced to install bulletproof glass or flee the country. They lambasted the Liberal government’s “soft-on-crime” policies, such as Bills C-5 and C-75, for creating a “catch-and-release” justice system that allegedly allows repeat offenders to roam free. Yet, beneath this rhetoric lay significant omissions—namely, the role of mass immigration from India as a vector for criminal networks, the alleged ties between these gangs and the Indian government, and the broader correlation between India’s chronic extortion epidemic and Canada’s rising one. This article delves into the conference’s narrative, highlights these gaps, and explores the nationwide implications, drawing on examples from across Canada to illustrate a crisis that extends far beyond Surrey.
The Press Conference: A Domestic Focus Amid Rising Tensions
The Surrey event was a calculated political move, timed amid ongoing diplomatic friction between Canada and India. CPC speakers delivered a unified message: extortion cases have surged 330% nationally since 2015, with a staggering 500% increase in Surrey alone, correlating to broader crime spikes like a 55% rise in violent offences in the city. Brock, the Shadow Minister for Justice, cited RCMP data showing extortion charges climbing from 680 in 2015 to 1,258 in 2024, attributing this to Liberal reforms that repealed mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related extortion and emphasized “restraint” in bail decisions.
Personal stories amplified the urgency. Khanna shared tales of victims advised by police to hide in basements, while Hallan criticized the Liberals for admitting 17,600 known criminals through immigration loopholes and allowing post-crime asylum claims. The CPC touted their solutions: private members’ bills like C-242 (the “Jail Not Bail Act”) to deny bail for repeat violent offenders and C-381 (the “Protection Against Extortion Act”) to impose minimum sentences—three years for basic extortion, escalating to five if linked to organized crime. They accused Liberals of blocking these measures and deflecting blame to provinces, positioning leader Pierre Poilievre as the architect of the “biggest crackdown on crime in history,” including a foreign agent registry and enhanced self-defence rights.
The Q&A, dominated by South Asian media, touched briefly on foreign elements. When pressed about RCMP claims linking Indian government agents to gang networks, Khanna responded evasively, emphasizing “evidence-based accountability” and Canada’s “strong ties with India” for trade and cultural exchanges, without delving into specifics. Notably, the MPs acknowledged during the conference that “Canada didn’t have this kind of problem before,” implying a recent emergence tied to external factors, yet they steadfastly refused to connect it explicitly to India or immigration policies, pivoting instead to broad critiques of Liberal “failures.”
Glaring Omissions: Mass Immigration, Gang Ties, and Indian Government Involvement
While the CPC effectively critiqued domestic policies, its narrative conspicuously avoided deeper systemic issues. Notably absent was any substantive discussion of mass immigration from India as a conduit for criminal elements. Canada has seen an influx of over 1.3 million Indians, many from Punjab and Haryana—regions rife with gang activity—entering via student visas, asylum claims, or family reunification. In British Columbia’s Lower Mainland alone, 111 foreign nationals, mostly of Punjab origin, are under investigation for extortion, with nine deported. Fraudulent Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and immigration consultants have enabled this, allowing gang affiliates to embed in communities and extend operations.
Equally omitted were the alleged ties between these gangs and the Indian government. RCMP reports from January 2026 explicitly state that the Bishnoi gang is “acting on behalf of the Indian government,” using extortion, murder-for-hire, and intimidation to target perceived threats like Sikh separatists (Khalistanis). Indian diplomats, expelled in 2023 amid tensions over the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, reportedly withheld visas to recruit informants, funnelling intelligence to gangs for violent enforcement. This hybrid of state repression and criminal profiteering has fueled a “climate of fear” in Canada, yet the conference pivoted to Liberal immigration “failures” without naming India or calling for targeted vetting reforms.
These omissions may stem from political calculus: alienating Indian voters or escalating diplomatic rows could backfire. However, they dilute the CPC’s credibility, especially given revelations of Indian interference in their own 2022 leadership race, where agents allegedly pressured candidate Patrick Brown. By framing extortion as purely domestic and recognizing that “Canada didn’t have this problem” previously without linking it to India and immigration, the CPC risks perpetuating a partial narrative that overlooks the imported nature of the crisis.
The Correlation: India’s Chronic Extortion Crisis Exporting to Canada
India’s extortion epidemic provides the blueprint for Canada’s crisis, with direct correlations through shared criminal networks, immigration patterns, and alleged state orchestration. In India, extortion thrives as a “parallel economy,” particularly in Punjab and Haryana, where over 500 gangs under 10 major syndicates demand “protection money” from businesses, builders, and celebrities. Punjab registered 569 FIRs for extortion and threats from 2023-2025, with gangs like Lawrence Bishnoi’s operating from jails using smuggled phones and encrypted apps. Bishnoi, boasting 700 gunmen, targets affluent Punjabis for greed, blending it with vendettas—methods identical to those in Canada: WhatsApp demands followed by shootings or arson.
This ecosystem exports via diaspora migration. Gang members flee Indian crackdowns by entering Canada on student visas or asylum, exploiting lax screening to rebuild networks. The post-2023 Nijjar fallout amplified this: as Canada accused India of extraterritorial killings, extortion spiked, blending criminal rackets with political coercion. Canada’s designation of Bishnoi as a terrorist entity in September 2025 underscores this link, citing the gang’s role in “murder, shootings, arson, and terror through extortion.”
Geopolitically, India’s denial of state ties—framing Canada as harbouring criminals—exacerbates the issue. Mutual extradition failures (India requests ignored by Canada, and vice versa) allow figures like Goldy Brar to orchestrate from afar. This correlation manifests in a 280% national rise in extortion charges, turning Canadian communities into extensions of Indian gang wars.
Nationwide Examples: A Crisis Spanning Provinces
While Surrey has dominated headlines—with 111 suspects investigated and incidents like the November 2025 arrest of a “prime conspirator” in India tied to BC shootings—the crisis permeates Canada. In Ontario’s Peel Region (Brampton and Mississauga), there are reports of targeted extortion by Indian-backed groups, with links to Bishnoi in cases of threats and violence. A December 2025 report highlighted families receiving “you’re going to die in Canada” messages, echoing Indian tactics, and tied to broader interference.
In Alberta, Calgary saw two shootings in late 2025, possibly connected to the Bishnoi gang, targeting Punjabi businessmen amid extortion demands. Edmonton’s South Asian community faced similar waves, with the RCMP investigating cross-provincial networks linked to Indian origins, including arson at trucking firms. In Toronto, the 2023 murder of Sukhdool Singh Gill—a Bambiha gang member wanted in India for extortion—sparked fears of retaliatory cycles, with Bishnoi claiming responsibility.
Even in smaller centers like Windsor, Ontario, or Vancouver Island, reports of WhatsApp threats to Indian entrepreneurs have surfaced, often traced to Punjab-based callers. These examples illustrate a pan-Canadian pattern: affluent diaspora members targeted for “protection” fees, with violence escalating if unpaid, mirroring India’s chronic issues.
Implications: Toward Accountability and Reform
The CPC’s press conference, while spotlighting a real crisis, faltered by sidestepping uncomfortable truths about immigration from India and governmental ties. This selective narrative risks politicizing security without addressing root causes. Ignoring these ties and the imported nature of the problem—despite MPs’ recognition that Canada previously lacked such widespread extortion—creates an unsafe environment for heritage Canadians. Heritage Canadians, including long-established residents and non-South Asian communities, face spillover effects: increased violent crime in shared neighbourhoods, strained public resources (e.g., policing and courts), and a broader erosion of safety perceptions. For instance, drive-by shootings in mixed areas like Edmonton or Calgary have heightened fears among all residents, contributing to community divisions and a sense of lawlessness that affects everyday life, from local businesses to public spaces. By refusing to mention India and immigration explicitly, the CPC perpetuates a cycle where unaddressed transnational threats undermine national security for everyone.
As extortion forces Punjabi businessmen to flee cities nationwide, calls grow for bilateral cooperation: enhanced vetting, extraditions, and a foreign agent registry. By acknowledging the India-Canada extortion correlation, policymakers can foster safer communities and diplomatic resolutions. The path forward demands transparency, not evasion.