A new provincial task force has been formed to tackle the growing number of extortion threats and shootings targeting British Columbia's South Asian community. Led by the B.C. RCMP, the task force will bring together 40 members from various law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, $300,000 from the federal gun and gang action fund is being directed to local police to support extortion investigations and to Crime Stoppers for its public awareness campaign on extortion.
Umendra Singh elected President of FCA
Umendra Singh was elected the president of the Fiji Canada Association in a landslide victory at its 57th annual general meeting in Surrey on September 7.
In an unprecedent event, Singh’s team won all 10 seats on the board of directors.
This has not happened in the 57 yearhistory of FCA. And in the president’s race, Singh won by a large margin.
Singh told the gathering at the Fiji Multicultural Centre in North Surrey that he will work hard to unite the community and to make the Centre a more vibrant place.
He said he will increase membership, be inclusive and initiate more programs for members and seniors.
Continued on Page 4...
"No person, family or business in our province should be threatened in this way and we must do everything we can to stop these crimes," said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
The Surrey Police Service says it is investigating 45 extortion threats and 27 related shootings in the city this year alone. Continued on Page 10...
From Mumbai to Los Angeles
The Journey of a Filmmaker behind “Our State”
Devansh Pandit, a Mumbai-born filmmaker takes his first big bow in Los Angeles with “Our State”, a short film that speaks of resilience and the universal language of cinema.
From the bustling streets of Mumbai to the glittering premiere halls of Los Angeles, his journey has been nothing short of cinematic. Continued on Page 14...
Trump's birthday call to Modi amid US-India trade talks
US President Donald Trump has called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him happy birthday after weeks of tension over trade tariffs.
The phone call on Wednesday, a day before Modi turns 75, is seen as a sign of thawing ties and followed talks between the two sides on reaching a trade agreement, which both sides called "positive".
Trump posted later on X saying Modi was doing a "tremendous job" and thanked him for support on "ending the Russia-Ukraine war".
Modi called him a "friend" and said the two
were "committed" to taking their partnership to new heights. It was the first call between the two since the US imposed punishing tariffs on India last month for purchasing Russian oil.
Continued on Page 15...
California officially recognizes Diwali as a public holiday
California has taken a big step. The State Legislature just approved AB 268, a bill that officially recognises Diwali (also known as Deepavali) as a public holiday.
If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the bill by October 12, Diwali will join California’s official state holidays. State employees will have the option to take paid leave on Diwali. Public schools and community colleges can close on Diwali through agreements with employee unions.
The courts, however, will not close, Diwali won’t be a judicial holiday. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains,
observing themes of light, renewal, and hope.
California has a large South Asian community whose cultural and religious practices include Diwali. Recognising Diwali as a public holiday gives those communities room to celebrate openly without having to juggle work or school.
According to new reports, the bill passed the California Senate on September 10 with a 36-to-4 vote, and the Assembly on September 11 with 76to-4. Now the ball is in Governor Newsom’s court. He has until October 12 to sign AB 268 into law. If he does, Diwali becomes part of California’s official holiday calendar.
Man taken to hospital after shots fired at Surrey's Bear Creek Park
One man was taken to hospital after shots were fired at Beaar Creek Park in Surrey Saturday.
Surrey Police Service officers responded to a call that a man had been shot following an altercation between two groups of people at 9:08 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 13), an SPS release said.
Upon arrival, officers secured the scene. The victim, who was driven to a hospital by friends, suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect is described as a South Asian man with a short beard wearing a black turban and dark-coloured clothing. He fled the scene driving a grey-coloured sedan, the release noted. SPS’s Frontline Investigative Support (FLIS) Team has taken over the investigation.
SPS is asking any witnesses or anyone who may have any information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, to call Surrey Police Service at 604-599-0502 and quote file 2025-79990 (SP).
Extortion victims in Surrey still receiving threats with no new arrests made
South Asian Canadian business owners in Surrey who have been victims of extortion-related shootings say they are living in fear and feeling confused as threatening calls persist.
At least two business owners in Surrey — who have already had their places of work shot at — said they are continuing to receive calls from extortionists demanding money.
This week, Surrey police revealed that the number of cases of extortion-related violence so far this year is a lot higher than was previously disclosed. To date, Surrey police say they have received 39 reports of extortion — 27 of them involving shootings. Only 12 of those 27 cases had previously been publicized, either because victims went public or police issued news releases. Police officials said Thursday they would not reveal information about the other 15 extortion-related shootings as it would put victims’ identities at risk.
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton had no updates Thursday on the progress of their investigations, but he confirmed no arrests have been made in the 39 cases. RCMP did announce in July the arrests of two people in relation to extortion attempts targeting South Asian business people last year and that they were facing arson and gun charges.
“If any victim of a crime continues to be victimized, whether it’s threatened or otherwise, police strongly encourage them to contact police every time they’re victimized,” Houghton said. “Not only is that important so that police can better understand and track the number of incidents, but every incident potentially can offer an opportunity to collect evidence or information that may help police identify suspect(s).”
“It was the same guys, I can hear from the voice. It was around 9:30 p.m. at night on Sunday,” Singh
told Postmedia.
His business, 1313 Car Wash, was targeted with gunfire and theft late August. It all started when Singh was getting phone calls from a private number demanding $50,000. He refused to pay. That was followed by threats against his family and business.
Another business owner, Sony Sidhu from Bestway Foreign Exchange, is again getting calls from extortionists after first being contacted in July, he said. Sidhu’s business in York Centre, a popular South Asian plaza with several small businesses, was shot at, shattering a glass door in late August. This happened after his family refused to comply with a $1 million extortion demand.
Shots were fired at a business in the 12800 block of 80 Avenue in Surrey
After reopening, Sidhu says the calls started again this week.
“I ignored all of them,” he said, adding the incoming calls appeared to be international, from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“Before when I answered the calls, these were from the same number, same country, that’s why I didn’t answer.”
Rustad responds to voter fraud allegations in BC Conservatives leadership review
John Rustad is responding to allegations of voter fraud that have marred the review into his leadership of the B.C. Conservatives.
Asked about the allegations of fake member signs-ups in the area, Rustad said, "I think you should ask the party about that. But as soon as I heard about it, the first thing I did was call the executive director and say, 'This is ridiculous. These things need to be removed. We can't have them as part of the vote.'"
Red flags were raised late last month in regards to more than 2,000 new party members, all of whom tried to sign up on Aug. 29 — the deadline to join and have a say in Rustad's leadership. Each of those new members provided the same email domain and fake phone numbers — and their membership fees were all purchased using three credit cards — according to two party sources.
individuals alleged to be involved or had any knowledge of their actions before the fraudulent memberships were flagged.
"I'm not going to be commenting on that," Rustad said. "Elections B.C. will have an opportunity if they want to to investigate into that."
Rustad said he's also concerned with other aspects of the voting process, pointing to messages that were sent to B.C. Conservative supporters by a group opposed to Rustad's leadership, encouraging people to vote against him.
The sources also told that three people connected to the irregular memberships resigned from their roles within the party and had their party memberships revoked.
We asked Rustad if he knows any of the three
"What has gone on in Kelowna actually is very disturbing. We've had a breach of our database. We've had emails and text messages that have gone out to members in our party using our database and information illegally," Rustad said. The text messages, which reads: "There are 2 questions on the ballot about John Rustad's leadership and we're encouraging members to vote NO on both.
The reason we have your phone number is that either you know one of our team members, we signed you up at your door, or you previously responded to a text as a member."
Bright Nights event moves from Stanley Park to Surrey's Cloverdale Fairgrounds
The Bright Nights fundraising event is coming to Surrey, B.C., after more than 25 years in Vancouver's Stanley Park.
The annual holiday lights show will take place at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds as part of the Noel Holiday Light Festival, which runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 28.
The event is one of the largest fundraisers for the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund.
At Stanley Park, the event featured a 15-minute ride on a vintage, miniature train through the forest, which was decorated in holiday lights.
Jeff Sauvé, the executive director of the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, told CBC News Bright Nights was no longer feasible after the Stanley Park train was deemed inoperable for the
rest of 2025. Todd Schierling, who is president of the fund, said Wednesday that the organization had to explore other options.
"When we knew things were probably not going to come to fruition with the trains ... I assigned my team to do a reconnaissance search, if you will, to size up the situation through the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley and they found the Noel festival in Surrey," Schierling said. The Vancouver Park Board said commissioners and staff were not made aware that Bright Nights was leaving the city.
Earlier this month, the park board announced that the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience — a temporary immersive attraction — will open in Stanley Park in November. She also noted that the Bright Nights event has its roots in Surrey.
BC NDP pledges to cut 'administrative waste' amid $11.6B deficit
B.C.'s premier has doubled down on a pledge to cut down on administrative spending as the province faces an $11.6 billion deficit — a figure some economists say warrants a reassessment of the public sector, which has grown substantially since the NDP took over government.
On a financial update Monday, finance minister Brenda Bailey announced the province was grappling with an $11.6 billion deficit, exceeding March budget projects by about $700 million.
The swelling figures were largely attributed to the end of the carbon tax program, a cooling housing market resulting in a drop in property transfer taxes, lower-than-expected prices in commodities like natural gas and lumber and overall economic uncertainty.
On Tuesday, B.C. Premier David Eby doubled down on a previously announced government
spending review, while suggesting that billions of dollars worth of private investments in projects like LNG over the next year will help B.C. turn the tide.
"We're going to cut the waste out of the health authorities, we're already doing it, reducing the size of the public service, addressing administrative waste within the public service without affecting those frontline services that everyone depends on, and we're going to grow our economy," Eby said.
According to a June analysis by the Business Council of British Columbia, job growth in B.C. has skewed toward to the public sector with 612,000 jobs — about 134,000 above its prepandemic tarajectory.
Eby says so far his government has reduced the public sector by about 850 full-time equivalent jobs.
construction site in Cloverdale
125-Bed Long-Term Care Facility Celebrated as a Milestone for Inclusive Senior Care in B.C.
CLOVERDALE, B.C. — In a significant show of support for culturally responsive healthcare, Premier David Eby, along with MLA Jessie Sunner and MLA Garry Begg, visited the construction site of the highly anticipated Guru Nanak Diversity Village (GNDV) this week. The facility, a 125-bed long-term care home currently under development in Cloverdale, is set to become a cornerstone of inclusive senior care in British Columbia.
During the visit, the Premier and MLAs toured the site, engaging with project leaders and community members. They shared words of encouragement, highlighting the project's importance in meeting the diverse needs of B.C.’s aging population.
“This is moe than just a building — it’s a vision of what compassionate, culturally attuned care should look like in our province,” said Premier Eby. “Projects like the Guru Nanak Diversity Village exemplify the kind of community-based,
inclusive healthcare that British Columbia is proud to support.”
The Guru Nanak Diversity Village aims to provide care that reflects the cultural values, languages, and traditions of its residents — a vital need in the multicultural landscape of the province. With input and backing from local communities, government partners, funders, and dedicated supporters, the project is steadily moving toward completion.
“We are deeply honoured by the visit of Premier Eby and our local MLAs,” said a spokesperson for the project. “Their support reaffirms our mission to build a space where seniors are not just cared for, but where they truly feel at home.”
Construction on GNDV continues to progress, with the facility expected to open its doors in the near future — a testament to the power of collaboration and the province’s commitment to equitable healthcare for all.
Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland is stepping down from cabinet to serve as Canada’s special envoy to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday.
Freeland made no mention of the diplomatic appointment in a statement announcing her resignation, only saying she will not run in the next federal election.
“With tremendous gratitude and a little sadness, I have decided to step down from Cabinet today and turn the page on this chapter in my life,” she wrote. “I do not intend to run in the next federal election.”
what turned out to be her final cabinet meeting in Ottawa.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is also the intergovernmental affairs minister, will take over the internal trade portfolio from Freeland, while Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon will serve as the new transport minister. Both ministers were sworn into their new roles at Rideau Hall late Tuesday. Freeland’s statement was posted to social media following
Freeland and Prime Minister Mark Carney exited the meeting with their arms around each other and smiling, taking no questions from reporters waiting in the hallway. Carney thanked Freeland for her “extraordinary service” to Canada as a cabinet member over the past decade, praising her “versatility, raw intelligence, and principled leadership.”
“I have asked Chrystia to serve as Canada’s new Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, in addition to her responsibilities as a Member of Parliament,” he wrote.
“As a former G7 Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs, and International Trade with deep relationships and understanding of Ukraine and its economy, Chrystia is truly uniquely positioned for this timely and essential work towards a better future for Ukrainians and peace in Europe.”
Former politicians plan to challenge BC's electoral system in court
A group of former B.C. politicians is mounting a new effort to overhaul how we elect municipal councils, a system they say is currently unfair and out of step with the rest of Canada.
Outside of B.C., Canada’s big cities have ward systems, where councillors are elected to represent specific geographic areas, similar to provincial or federal ridings. In B.C., however, almost all municipalities elect their councils through an at-large system, which means they represent the entire city. The at-large system “disadvantages so many people,” said former Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, one of the people spearheading the new effort. “It’s bad for democracy.”
Forcing all council candidates to run citywide means established political parties wield more power, while certain neighbourhoods and groups are not well-represented, said Stewart, who lost in the 2022 election and is now a professor at Simon Fraser University. Stewart is “actively thinking” about running again in next year’s municipal election, he said, but has not yet decided.
On Thursday, Stewart and his allies officially unveiled “Fix City Hall,” a new non-profit society incorporated for the purpose of abolishing B.C.’s at-large elections. Fix City Hall will facilitate an online platform through which British Columbians can petition the province for change, and the group will fundraise to support a planned legal challenge. They are working with lawyers from the firm Arvay Finlay and aiming to file a case in B.C. Supreme Court by early next year.
There are also arguments against the ward system. In 2004, when the question was put to Vancouver voters in a plebiscite — where 54 per cent of voters opposed switching to wards — former Mayor Philip Owen argued that wards would lead to increased fighting on controversial issues such as the location of social housing and
halfway homes, CBC News reported at that time.
That year, a pair of Fraser Institute economists published an opinion piece in The Vancouver Sun arguing that economic theory and past evidence indicated such a transition would lead to higher government spending and taxes.
This debate is often framed as wards versus atlarge, but Stewart said he is not dead-set on moving to a ward system — just focused on abolishing atlarge. There are other possible systems, he said, such as proportional representation or single
transferable vote.
Different people within the Fix City Hall group have various opinions about which system might work best, Stewart said, “But what we’re all united on is that the at-large system is the worst one. So let’s get rid of it.”
The effort is also supported by several NDPaligned former municipal, provincial and federal politicians from various B.C. cities, including former B.C. premier and Vancouver mayor Mike Harcourt, who said in a written statement, “We need to replace B.C.’s at-large voting system with a more democratic way of electing officials to local city councils that better ensures neighbourhoods get the representation they need and deserve.”
Umendra Singh elected President of FCA
Continued from Page 1...
The new board of directors are; President: Umendra Singh; first Vice President, Robert Singh, Second Vice President, Nisha Singh, General Secretary, Sant Lal (Sam) Sharma; Treasurer, Raphael Lal; Directors, Kamal Kishore, Sunita Covaci, Lalita Lal, Pradeep Kumar and Sarojini Nath.
Subhash Sewak is Immediate Past President and ex officio on the board.
FCA was founded in March 1968 and has since then continuously operated in Metro Vancouver with paid-up membership. The Association does social, cultural and community work to help its members and the larger society. During Covid 19, FCA liaised with the federal government to obtain funding to provide food and support for the homeless people in North Surrey.
FCA also a vibrant seniors branch.
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OPINION
Russia-India-China Troika Left Trump In Climbdown: Likely To Pave Way To Re-Set Tariffs On India
By Subrata Majumder: India attracted the highest US tariff in Asia, despite attributing to a lower stake in US trade deficit. It is a 25 percent reciprocal tariff and another25 percent retaliatory tariff for the importing of oil from Russia.
US President Donald Trump quipped with regard to SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Summit in Tianjin in China that “America lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China.” This showcases Trump’s climbdown from aggressor to persuasion. The new US Ambassador to India Mr Sergio Gor reaffirmed, “Washington and India are not that far apart on tariff and indicated an agreement between two sides is imminent.”
Russia-India-China (RIC) troika evokes both primary challenge and opportunity. Russia took the lead in advancing the group , with China expressing support and India showing openness. The RIC troika represents a strategic opportunity to unite against external economic pressure and reaffirm foreign policy autonomy. Eventually, there is a common thread between Russia, India and China. Each pursues their policies based on national interests.
To this end, the RIC troika paves the way for the India–China thaw and pose a challenge to Trump’s discriminating tariff ruling. The warming of India-China relation stood out in SCO Summit as a strategic point to rein in Trump’s tariff threat. The security concern between China and India is tapering, with Russia playing an important role for camaraderie in the group.
Both China and Russia are major trading partners of India, besides USA. Even though both are major destinations for India’s imports, unlike USA which is the biggest export destination, imports from China and Russia played significant role in India’s rapid growth in the economy and exports. China plays key role in boosting new industries like electronics and other industries based on low cost supply chain and Russia plays significant role in outsmarting India’s oil starved energy.
Burying the hatchet large imports from China as negative to India’s growth, a new look has been given to the imports from China and its investment. A proverb looms , saying “China is not a foe. Make in India relies on Make in China”. Economic Survey 2023-24 – an important official document in the pre-budget session – focused on a relook to Chinese investment and its significance to refurbish Make in India.
City of Surrey plans over 1,800 rental homes in four towers at Gateway
After years of planning, dating back to before the pandemic, the City of Surrey is now pushing ahead with its substantial high-density, mixeduse residential project next to SkyTrain’s Gateway Station.
Through the municipal government’s wholly owned for-profit real estate company, Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) has submitted its application to redevelop a 5.7-acre, City-owned land assembly at the northern end of Surrey City Centre. The development site carries the addresses of 10725-10757 University Dr., 13310-13350 108 Ave., and 10744 133 St., spanning nine lots at the southeast corner of the intersection of 108 Avenue and 133 Street and situated immediately north of Whalley Athletic Park. Currently, much of the site is vacant. The existing structures were previously occupied by the former Sunshine Housing Coop, which saw its 39 townhouse units relocated to a brand new six-storey building — completed in February 2025 — with 69 units. This replacement
SkyTrain
housing project also involved SCDC.
Earlier concepts of the SCDC Gateway project envisioned about 1,600 homes in six towers up to 50 storeys. Now, the refined concept — designed by ZGF Architects and PFS Studio — currently under the municipal government’s review calls for a total of 1,814 homes, with 100 per cent of these units being secured purpose-built rental housing.
As well, there will now be four towers: a 436-fttall (133 metres) northwest tower with 40 storeys containing 478 homes; a 502-ft-tall (153 metres) centre tower with 44 storeys containing 475 homes; a 476-ft-tall (145 metres) southwest tower with 44 storeys containing 441 homes and 2,600 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant space; and a 436-ft-tall (133 metres) east tower with 44 storeys containing 420 homes and 6,700 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant space.
SCDC intends to complete the entire four-phased project in under a decade — the northwest tower by Spring 2030, the centre tower by Spring 2031, and the southwest tower and east tower by Spring 2032.
station What is the Bishnoi gang and why do some want it labelled a terrorist group?
South Asian man charged with extortion and shootings in Ontario
A Delta, B.C., resident is among a trio of men arrested on Canada-wide warrants in an extortion and shooting case in Brampton, Ont.
Gurdeep Shergill, 26, was arrested in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 12 and charged with two counts of discharging a firearm with intent, and one count of extortion.
Also arrested and charged were Husandeep Singh, 20, of Mississauga, Ont., and Gurpreet Singh, 23, of no fixed address.
Peel Regional Police say shots were fired at homes in a residential neighbourhood of Brampton on July 10 and 11. The suspects were seen fleeing in a black Chrysler 300, which was recovered in Winnipeg on July 13. Gurpreet Singh was also arrested there.
Peel Regional Police travelled to Surrey and coordinated with the Surrey Police Service (SPS)
to arrest Shergill. He has since been transported to Ontario where he and the other two men are being held pending a bail hearing. SPS spokesperson Sgt. Tige Pollock said while police are mindful of the charges Shergill is facing in Brampton, there is no indication he is involved in the recent spate of extortion attempts against Surrey's South Asian community.
"We're not aware at this time of any connection between this man and any criminal offences in Surrey," said Pollock. "However, our investigators are aware of his identity and, of course, they'll look at his presence in Surrey and then crossreference it with any investigations they have." On Monday, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced a $250,000 fund to reward tipsters who bring forward information that leads to successful extortion convictions in the city.
Surrey, B.C.'s mayor and police chief have announced a fund worth $250,000 for tips that lead to successful convictions of extortion cases in the Metro Vancouver community.
"We cannot and will not let extortion take hold in our city," said Mayor Brenda Locke, speaking at city hall Monday morning.
The announcement comes amid a rise in extortion cases largely targeting members of the South Asian community in Surrey and elsewhere in Canada, in which money is demanded from businesses under the threat of violence.
Locke said the Surrey Police Service (SPS) is currently investigating 44 cases of extortion in the city, and 27 related shootings.
Chief Const. Norm Lipinski said the SPS's
dedicated extortion team is making progress on the cases and has identified some persons of interest.
He said he hopes the reward money will be the tool that brings in the information needed for successful convictions.
"This reward is intended to motivate individuals to provide specific evidence to police to further the investigation, leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of individuals," he said. Tips can be submitted by calling the Surrey extortion tip line at 236-485-5149. Callers must identify themselves.
The reward will be broken up and awarded based on the value of the tips received, said Lipinski.
The reward line is to operate in tandem with the anonymous Crime Stoppers line for reporting instances of extortion at 1-800-222-8477.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have been calling on Ottawa to designate a gang tied to India as a terrorist organization.
The federal Conservatives plan to press the government on the Bishnoi gang when Parliament returns this month.
Here's a look at how the gang operates and what sets it apart from other transnational crime networks.
What is the Bishnoi gang?
Lawrence Bishnoi has been imprisoned in India for nearly a decade on charges of widespread involvement in gang violence.
In 2023, India's counterterrorism body, the National Investigation Agency, said the 32-year-old operates his "terror-syndicate from jails in different states" in India and through an associate in Canada.
Multiple Indian media outlets have reported Bishnoi sent tens of thousands of dollars in money transfers from India to both Canada and Thailand between 2019 and 2021. The Canadian Press could not verify that reporting.
"He rocketed to international fame as a criminal in quite a short period of time," said Wesley Wark, a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation.
In an interview with The Canadian Press in 2024, Indian journalist Ritesh Lakhi, said Bishnoi took part in street fights and arsons as a student, and likely shared jail cells with notorious gang members.
Bishnoi is infamous for threatening to kill beloved Indian celebrities, political figures and business leaders. In 2022, he was accused of being behind the shooting death of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who lived briefly in Canada.
How is the gang tied to India's government?
India insists that its officials have prosecuted Bishnoi for criminal acts. But the gangster is accused of orchestrating violent acts of extortion while behind bars using a cellphone, which "gives credence to the theory that the Indian state may be
protecting Lawrence Bishnoi," Lakhi said. Wark, an expert on national security and intelligence issues, said the group is widely believed "to have been used as a proxy force by the Indian government to engage in various forms of transnational repression, some violent."
What has the gang done in Canada?
In December 2023, police in Abbotsford, B.C., said they were investigating acts of extortion targeting affluent members of the South Asian community that they linked to individuals associated with the Bishnoi gang. Police in Ontario and Alberta have made similar claims. The gang rose to national prominence in Canada on Thanksgiving weekend of last year, when the RCMP accused the Bishnoi gang of orchestrating violent crimes against Sikh activists on Canadian soil. The Mounties alleged the gang was targeting those calling for a Sikh state to be carved out of India under the name Khalistan. They claimed Indian diplomats shared information about Khalistan supporters in Canada with officials in New Delhi, who then passed along the information to the Bishnoi gang.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin alleged that this arrangement led to the killing of Canadian citizens and acts of coercion and extortion.
"What we've seen, from an RCMP perspective, is the use of organized-crime elements — and it's been publicly attributed and claimed by one organized crime group in particular, which is the Bishnoi group," Gauvin said last October.
Federal government is 'urgently' trying to dissolve BC-based terror group Samidoun, Joly says
The Canadian government is “urgently” looking for a way to dissolve the not-for-profit status of Samidoun, a Vancouver-based anti-Israel organization that has been designed as a terror group, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced on social media on Thursday.
“It is completely unacceptable that any organization listed as a terrorist entity by the Government of Canada continues to exist as a federally registered not-for-profit organization,” wrote Joly. “I have therefore directed government officials to urgently look at any and all options to formally dissolve Samidoun as well as any and all listed terrorist entities in Canada.”
A year ago, Samidoun was designated as a terror group in both Canada and the United States. At the time, Khaled Barakat, whose wife Charlotte Kates is a director of Samidoun, was also designated a terrorist by the United States’ government. The group’s not-for-profit status has remained intact, though, infuriating Jewish advocacy groups.
Samidoun has been a prominent organizer of
protests in Canada since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.
B’nai Brith Canada, the Canadian Jewish rights advocacy group, thanked Joly for the move on social media.
“For almost a year, B’nai Brith Canada has been calling for Samidoun’s not-for-profit corporation to be dissolved… Their continued existence as a corporation has made a mockery of our nation’s efforts to combat terrorism. Every day that the corporation exists is a blight on our society,” the group wrote.
“We look forward to the end of this sordid saga and to the implementation of legislative reform that will ensure that Canada never again finds itself in such an odious predicament.”
After Samidoun was designated a terror group last year, the Criminal Code prohibits anyone from providing financial services, money or property to the group. But Samidoun was still a registered notfor-profit in Canada with its registration page on the government of Canada website noting that it is a designated terrorist organization.
Advocates expressed cautious optimism about the move on Thursday.
“This is a welcome and long overdue move. For decades, terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and various other hostile actors have used Canada like an ATM to fundraise, mobilize, and carry on business in ways that undermine Canada’s national security,” said Casey Babb is the director of the Promised Land Project at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
BCGEU members allegedly exposed to ‘irritant’ on Victoria picket line
Police are investigating after B.C. General Employees’ Union members were allegedly exposed to an “irritant” while picketing in Victoria this week.
In a statement, BCGEU president Paul Finch said the union was “deeply disturbed” by the incident, which happened Tuesday outside the Royal B.C. Museum on Belleville Street.
“This comes in addition to reports of yelling, spitting, racialized and homophobic verbal assaults, and other violent incidents,” Finch said. “These acts of violence against peaceful striking workers are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The Victoria Police Department confirmed officers are investigating reports of an “irritant deployment during a labour dispute” around 7:30 p.m. that evening.
“A group of individuals reported experiencing respiratory distress, suggesting exposure to a substance similar to bear spray,” police said in a news release Thursday.
Investigators have been speaking with witnesses and reviewing security video from the area, authorities said. It’s unclear whether police have identified a suspect or obtained a suspect description.
Sikh truck drivers in the US fear backlash after fatal crash
The trucks keep rolling on Highway 99 in California, the route bustling with freight traffic through the Central Valley. And behind the wheel is often a turbaned Sikh man, their cabs adorned with religious symbols, portraits of Sikh Gurus, or posters of Punjabi singers.
Sikhs, a religious minority group from India, have become a large part of America's haulage industry, helping to deliver everything from Californian strawberries to lumber across the country.
But a crash in Florida and its aftermath has sent shivers through the Sikh trucking community that could have economic consequences.
There are approximately 750,000 Sikhs in the US, and about 150,000 working in the trucking industry, mostly as drivers. The role they play in this essential industry is evident from the names on their trucks' doors - Singh Trucking, Punjab Trucking - to the
curry served at rest stops along the west coast, where approximately 40% of all truck drivers are Sikh, according to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association (NAPTA). Many have limited English skills but years of driving experience.
This has put some drivers in a precarious position, as the Trump administration has moved to tighten language requirements for commercial drivers. In response, many Sikh temples are offering language classes to help drivers pass their language tests.
"Many drivers stayed home out of fear of the new laws. We started the class in mid-July, to help them return to work," said Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal, who volunteers with a Sikh temple in Stockton, California. At an English class at the temple on Sunday, several drivers practised introductions and reviewed highway signs and regulatory signs. Many drivers felt shy about speaking but were motivated.
Stanley Park Preservation Society questions why 400-year-old
tree cut down by city
A group opposed to ongoing tree removal in Vancouver’s Stanley Park is questioning the city’s decision to cut down a 400-year-old Douglas fir.
The City of Vancouver deemed the tree dead and a safety concern for the public, but the Stanley Park Preservation Society hired two independent risk assessors who have come to a different conclusion.
“This is the first that I’ve seen it, in real life and it’s just devastating,” Jillian MacGuire, a member of the society told. The 30-metre-tall conifer is now wood chips on the ground. Norm Oberson is one of the tree risk assessors brought on by the society.
He says preliminary assessment of the tree doesn’t suggest it was necessary to cut the tree down. “If you would go and look at the flat top, you would see that the flat top is sound. Theres no decay in the heartwood,” Oberson said.
“I haven’t found any indicators of danger in this tree so far. We tested the roots. They are sounding solid. Theres no signs or indicators of decay in the roots or the butt,”Oberson continued. The city says otherwise. In a statement, the Vancouver Board of
Parks and Recreation said the tree was removed after an Aug. 14 rainstorm. “The tree was dead and most of the bark from the tree had sloughed up to a height of 50 feet,” the statement said.
“Larger sections of plate-like bark in the upper canopy remained and hung precariously over the trail, posing a significant risk,” the statement continued. Oberson says according to his assessment, that was not the case.
“So far it was the wrong decision. But we haven’t completed the testing yet,” he said.
The society said it will continue to fight against the removal of trees in the park, and to demand answers from the city.
3rd victim dies nearly a week after Vancouver triple stabbing
The third victim in a triple stabbing has now died from her injuries, Vancouver police say.
Jinfeng Guan, 50, died in hospital Thursday (Sept. 11), nearly a week after the fatal stabbing on Sept. 5 that had already left two others dead. Police said in a news release Monday that Guan had been receiving medical treatment for her injuries.
Police were called to the Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood for reports of a stabbing just before 2 p.m. on Sept. 5. Officers found Guan with lifethreatening injuries inside an apartment near Vanness Avenue and Spencer Street. Officers then
found two female homicide victims in another building two blocks away, near Joyce Street and Vanness. Vancouver police are also now publicly identifying the two other victims in the stabbing as Jianghui Deng, 55, and Chunxiu Yin, 54.
Viet Quy John Ly was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Deng and Yin on Sept. 7. Ly, 54, remains in custody.
Police said Crown counsel has been notified of Guan's death, and police are in the process of submitting evidence for consideration of additional charges.
RCMP in Langford, say man arrested in alleged sex assault of girl on school grounds
Mounties in Langford, B.C., say they've arrested a 21-year-old man after a girl was allegedly sexually assaulted on the grounds of an elementary school this week.
Police say the man was taken into custody Wednesday and was expected to appear in court Thursday.
They say the assault is alleged to have taken place after school on the grounds of Eagle View Elementary in View Royal, about 10 kilometres west of Victoria, on Monday, Sept. 15.
RCMP allege a man approached the girl, exposed himself and then touched her in a sexual manner. The girl was able to leave and wasn't physically hurt. She told her parents, who reported the incident to police.
"A very, very brave little child, who definitely did the right thing, told a trusted adult and then they came forward to the police," West Shore RCMP Cpl. Nancy Saggar said during a news conference Thursday.
Saggar urged parents to talk to their children
about safety. "I'm a mother myself, I have a young child at home," she said. "It's a horrifying feeling — having your child come up to you and tell you what's happened to them."
Eagle View Elementary sent a letter to parents Thursday echoing the plea for parents to talk to kids about strangers, never being outside alone and being aware of their surroundings.
Police say there have been no other reports of similar events in the area.
Longtime Victoria radio host arrested on child luring charges
A longtime Victoria radio host has been arrested on child luring charges.
CFAX 1070’s Al Ferraby has been a fixture in the community for decades, even singing at former premier John Horgan’s funeral service in 2024. He has now been charged with two counts of telecommunicating to lure a child. Court records indicate the alleged offences happened in Vancouver and Victoria.
Ferraby has been on the air on CFAX since 1994. He has been released from police custody.
Two more rental towers proposed under Vancouver’s Broadway plan
Two more proposals for rental towers that fall within the boundaries of the Broadway plan go before Vancouver city council Thursday for decision at a public hearing.
The properties are located at 45 East 16th Ave. in Mount Pleasant and at 2110 West 5th Ave., which is known as “Kitsilano north” in the plan. Council approved the plan in 2022 and has since seen amendments to allow for higher buildings.
In both proposals, tenants of 46 rental agreements in older rental housing on the sites are eligible for tenant protection under the city’s tenant relocation and protection policy, which includes first right of refusal to move into a new building.
The application by JTA Development Consultants on behalf of 45 East 16th Holdings Ltd. proposes a 17-storey mixed-use building containing 145 rental units. At least 20 per cent, or 29 of the 145, would be offered at below-market rents.
The site is comprised of four lots located midblock along the north side of East 16th Avenue between Ontario and Quebec streets. An existing three-storey rental apartment on the property contains 23 rental units.
Based on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Market Rental Survey, the vacancy rate for Mount Pleasant is one per cent. A vacancy rate of between three and five per cent is considered to represent a balanced market.
From a $5.7 billion surplus to an $11.6 billion deficit: How did B.C.'s finances go astray?
In just under three years, B.C.’s NDP government has gone from projecting billions in surpluses to logging a record deficit. So how did the province’s finances flip in just a few years time?
When Premier David Eby took over in 2022, B.C. was on track to post a $5.7 billion surplus for the 2022-23 fiscal year. He had a choice: Spend the money on one-time programs or use it to pay off some of the province’s debt. His predecessor, John Horgan, had gone into deficit spending in the 2019-2020 and 2020-21 years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other than that, he posted balanced budgets every year alongside finance ministers Carole James and Selina Robinson.
Eby chose to spend the money to get a jump on priorities such as the housing crisis and reducing the number of people struggling with homelessness and addiction in B.C.
By the time the fiscal year ended in March 2023, that enormous surplus had been winnowed down to $704 million, which went to repaying the debt.
That windfall wouldn’t happen again as the province logged a $5.6 billion deficit the next year and a record $7.3 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
On Monday, the province announced it is on track to post a record deficit of $11.6 billion this year, more than half a billion more than the $10.9 billion hole projected by March’s budget. The situation is expected to get even worse next year with a projected $12.6 billion deficit in 2026-27. Government expenses have greatly increased in the past three years and are partly responsible for the record-breaking deficits, along with falling revenues, say economists.
In 2023-24, spending increased from roughly $80 billion to $84.6 billion while revenue dropped slightly to $79.6 billion. Last year, spending greatly outpaced the roughly $5 billion growth in revenue, which reached just over $84 billion. This year, expenses are expected to grow further, to $94.8 billion, even as revenue falls to $83.2 billion. Bryan Yu, chief economist for Central 1 Credit Union in Vancouver, said much of the spending increase has been concentrated on health and education. “Five cents of every dollar of revenue will have to go to service that debt as well going forward. So that does mean that there’s probably less that can be allocated for other types of spending in the economy.”
BC launches task force to tackle rise in extortion, shootings in South Asian community
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Arrests have been made in some extortion cases, according to B.C. RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer, although he did not specify a number.
Brewer said police have forwarded charge recommendations on some of the investigations that are currently in front of Crown counsel for assessment.
"This dedicated and expanded team brings additional resources, intelligence analysts and tactical skills from multiple law enforcement agencies with the goal of protecting our communities while pursuing those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear," Brewer said.
Earlier this week Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced a $250,000 fund to reward tipsters who bring forward information that leads to successful extortion convictions in the city.
And yesterday, Mississauga's Peel Regional Police announced Gurdeep Shergill of Delta, B.C., had been charged with extortion and two counts of shooting with intent. The charges are related to two shootings in Brampton, Ontario. Shergill was arrested in Surrey and transported to Brampton where is is awaiting a bail hearing. Brewer said extortion perpetrators can run the gamut from family members to those connected to international gangs.
The RCMP has linked the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang to extortion threats in the South Asian community, setting off a call from B.C. Premier David Eby and others to have the gang declared a terrorist organization. Krieger said the province's VictimLinkBC helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 100 languages and that victims of extortion may be eligible for support through the crime victim assistance program.
NAME CHANGE
Fiji thumps Canada in PNC semis
The FIJI Water Flying Fijians will face Japan in the final of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup.
Fiji outclassed Canada 63-10 in the second semifinal at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado. Mick Byrne’s men led 43-3 at halftime with tries to Taniela Rakuro (2), Mesake Vocevoce, Etonia Waqa, Kalaveti Rouvou and Eroni Mawi.
Kemueli Valetini was sweet off the tee in the first half, converting all five of the six tries and a penalty.
Before halftime, Mesake Doge was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle, after review, the card was upgraded to a red. Fiji’s discipline was in question and were forced to play with 13 players in the beginning of the second 40 with Etonia Waqa given a yellow card for a dangerous play.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Fiji defended well and earned a penalty with Valetini stepping up for the role, posting 51 points in 53 minutes. Four minutes after, Fiji extended the
scoreline with Ravouvou going in for his second and Valetini adding the extra two.
Canada had pulled one back through Brock Gallagher, but it wasn’t too long until Fiji responded with Ravouvou diving for his third try of the match. His dynamic performance earned him the Plyer of the Match accolades. In the first semi-final, Japan thumped Tonga 62-24 and USA defeated Samoa 29-13 in the 5th place play-off.
Fiji generates nearly 200,000 tonnes of waste in 2024
Fiji produced a total of 199,263 tonnes of solid waste in 2024, marking an increase of 8,875 tonnes compared to the previous year, according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics’ (FBoS) newly released Experimental Environmental Account for Solid Waste. The report shows that the largest portion, 166,996 tonnes, was general waste, while green waste accounted for 11,151 tonnes, and special waste totalled 21,116 tonnes.
The increase in total waste was largely driven by a 6,863-tonne rise in general waste, along with 1,957 tonnes more of special waste and 55 tonnes more of green waste compared to 2023.
Most of the waste collected in 2024 was disposed of in landfills, amounting to 144,336 tonnes or 72.4% of the total. Meanwhile, only 477 tonnes (0.2%) were recycled, and 54,450 tonnes (27.4%) were incinerated.
The Manufacturing sector was the leading contributor to industrial waste generation, producing 25,696 tonnes (12.9%). It was followed by Transport & Storage – 18,050 tonnes (9.1%), Wholesale & Retail – 14,062 tonnes (7.1%), Public Administration & Defence – 10,323 tonnes (5.2%) and Accommodation & Food Services – 9,471 tonnes (4.8%).
FICAC scraps old plans, resets focus on results and public trust
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has completely reset its strategic direction, discarding its previous plan and launching a new approach aimed at delivering real outcomes, not just activity.
She said the newly adopted framework is clear, focused, and measurable, with a strong emphasis on reducing corruption, delivering timely justice, recovering assets, strengthening institutional integrity, and most importantly rebuilding public trust.
They now have a new Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and Corporate Plan 2025–2026 that was launched yesterday. “The previous plan had 133 fragmented measures—meetings held, reports produced. That was not good enough. So we scrapped it,” said Acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika.
Legacy of coups still felt in Fiji’s leadership - Ratuva
The legacy of military involvement in Fiji’s political landscape continues to cast a long shadow over national institutions, according to the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Macmillan Brown Centre at Canterbury University, Professor Steven Ratuva.
Speaking in a recent discussion on the challenges facing democratic development in Fiji, Professor Ratuva reflected on the military’s repeated interventions in politics, beginning with the 1987 coup and extending through to the 2006 takeover. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Professor Ratuva says he was arrested multiple times and chased by military personnel during periods of political unrest. He says the persistent presence of military
personnel in government and civil service roles has led to a culture of militarization, where coercion is defined as the use of threat and force which has become normalized.
The Professor further explained that this normalisation has contributed to an environment where the abuse of power and corruption are not only present, but exacerbated. Professor Ratuva pointed specifically to a sense of entitlement among some in positions of authority—entitlement to leadership, to appointments, and to power itself.
He says the belief that power equals entitlement has affected how institutions are run, how appointments are made, and how certain groups maintain dominance.
80 percent of Fijian children under 2 years old suffer from malnutrition - Kiran
Malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in Fiji, with 80 per cent of children under the age of two suffering from malnutrition and 50 per cent of school-aged children reported to be malnourished.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran mentioned this during her address at the National Farmers Awards held at Koroivolu Park in Nadi. She highlighted the urgent need to tackle undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition.
She stressed the need to refocus on nutrition,
innovation, and inclusive agricultural growth to ensure Fiji’s long-term health and food security.
Kiran is urging families to return to traditional practices of growing and processing practices.
She emphasised the nutritional benefits of local crops such as saijan, bele, and rourou, encouraging households to grow these nutrient-rich plants.
She also stressed the importance of growing food at home not just during crises but as a sustainable way to improve national health and reduce household food expenses.
SOUTH ASIA
Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka: Is South Asia fertile for Gen Z revolutions?
The rattle of iron gates sounded like drumbeats as the crowd surged forward. A sea of bodies stormed through the barricades, which had stood as sentinels of power barely hours ago.
The hallways of the house of the country’s leader echoed with the thunder of muddy footsteps. Some smashed windows and artefacts, others picked up luxury bedsheets or shoes. The building and its plush interiors had been symbols of crushing authority, impenetrable and out of reach for the country’s teeming millions. Now, however, they briefly belonged to the people.
This was Nepal last week. It was also Sri Lanka in 2022, and Bangladesh in 2024.
As Nepal, a country of 30 million people sandwiched between India and China, now plots its future in ways alien to traditional electoral democracies, the spate of youth-led protest movements that have toppled governments one after the other in South Asia has also sparked a broader question: Is the world’s most densely populated region Ground Zero for Gen Z
revolutions?
“It’s certainly very striking. There’s this kind of new politics of instability,” said Paul Staniland, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago, whose research focuses on political violence and international security in South Asia.
On Thursday, some 10,000 Nepali youth, including many in the diaspora, voted for an interim prime minister not through physical or electoral ballots, but through an online poll on Discord, a platform primarily used by gamers.
Pakistani raids near Afghan border kill at least 19 soldiers and 35 fighters
Pakistani security forces have raided three hideouts of the Pakistan Taliban armed group near the Afghan border in recent days, triggering fierce clashes that killed at least 19 soldiers and 45 fighters, says the military.
The military on Saturday said 22 fighters were killed in Bajaur, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Thirteen more were killed in a separate operation in South Waziristan district, it added. The statement said 12 soldiers, “having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom” in South Waziristan,
their deaths underscoring the struggles Pakistan faces as it tries to rein in resurgent armed groups.
In another clash in the Lower Dir area, seven soldiers and 10 rebel fighters were killed in a shootout after troops discovered a militant hideout, the army said in a separate statement.
The Pakistan Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attacks in a message on social media. The group, which Islamabad says is based in Afghanistan, is separate to but closely linked with the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan.
Need to resist campaign against migrants
Industry and Power Minister Sanjeev Arora on Thursday extended support to the migrant workforce in the wake of the rising sentiment against them in some parts of the state.
“There must be no discrimination against migrant labourers anywhere in India. We are a democratic and secular nation where everyone enjoys equal rights. Punjabis, too, work and run businesses in other states. While all violent incidents are deplorable and will be dealt with firmly under the law, one isolated incident cannot be allowed to create fear or disrupt harmony. Law and order will take its course against the alleged culprit,” he said. He was responding to The Tribune query regarding the passing of resolutions by some panchayats in Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Mohali, Bathinda and Malerklotla against undocumented migrants, asking them to leave villages.
Arora assured the industrialists that there would be no shortage of labourers in the state.
Meanwhile, several farm unions, worker organisations, intellectuals and writers have also come out in support of the migrant labourers. The Kirti Kisan Union has called for resistance to the
campaign targeting migrant workers, calling upon Punjabis to remain alert and resist it. “Migrant labourers play a vital role in Punjab’s economy,” said Nirbhay Singh Dhudike, president of the union.
The Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union and Joint Front of Rural and Agricultural Workers Organisations, Punjab, condemned the heinous crime committed by a labourer against a five-year-old child in Hoshiarpur, but urged the people to reject and resist the hate campaign against all migrants. More than 500 intellectuals, writers and artists have also come together to appeal to the people of Punjab to unite against the incidents of violence and hatred against migrants.
Non-bailable warrants issued against ex-AIG
A CBI court has issued open-ended non-bailable warrants against former Punjab Police AIG Jagdip Singh, after an application by the central agency on September 1.
Jagdip Singh, a resident of Phase-2 Mohali, has been declared a proclaimed offender in two cases involving disappearances, including the kidnapping, illegal confinement, and disappearance of Mohinder Kaur, mother of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar, in November 1992.
The CBI prosecutor said the police raided her village house while she was alone and kept her at
Jagdip Singh is also implicated in the 1999 disappearance of SGPC employee Aroor Singh, with seven individuals chargesheeted in that case. A lookout circular was issued for him in 2021.
Court order dated September 3 noted, “According to information from Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO), Bureau of Investigation, Amritsar, Jagdip left India on February 1, 2021, via the Delhi airport to Canada. From 2023 onwards, the arrival of PO Jagdip Singh could not be traced.” Baldev Singh, son of Mohinder Kaur, recalled, “I have fought in the Kargil war. Now when the time has come for justice,
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When his short film Our State was screened in LA, it received thunderous applause — a moment that marked the arrival of a new storyteller with a powerful voice.
Rooted in his upbringing yet universal in its themes, “Our State” reflects his deep passion for exploring identity, belonging, and the human condition. In this candid conversation, the filmmaker opens up about his origins, the challenges and triumphs of bringing “Our State” to the screen, his influences from world cinema, and how he envisions his future in filmmaking as he continues bridging stories from Mumbai to the world.
Origins & Early Life:
1. To begin with, could you tell us about your roots and the environment you grew up in?
I was born to Kashmiri parents in Bombay,(now Mumbai) India. My childhood was nurtured in a modest yet cozy one-bedroom apartment in Janakalyan Nagar, Malad—far from the glitz and glamour Bombay is often known for. A small locality in the north, close to a quiet beach that was only mentioned once in a mediocre song in a terrible Bollywood remake of ‘Bruce Almighty’ (this is a deep cut). I had a love-hate relationship with my locality. I loved the people, hated the commute; loved my neighborhood, hated the infrastructure. Home was a place of peace. A tight-knit family in a tight-knit space. We were close, figuratively and literally. I didn’t really step out of my neighborhood as much in the earlier years, so most of my time was spent at home or near my building. Since the real world was so far away, I delved deeper into fictional ones; comic books, novels, movies, and television.
2. How did your upbringing influence your creative instincts and interest in cinema?
I feel like some of my creative instincts come from my father, some from my mother, and most from God. The storytelling comes from my father, the conviction from my mother, and the ideas from God.
I feel I’ve always had a creative knack, though. I’ve heard stories of me drawing caricatures in board rooms, entertaining guests with my dance routines, and drawing countless comic strips on printer paper (or any other kind of paper I could find).
My earliest memory of cinema is watching Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace on a small TV set in my parents’ bedroom. I think I was 4 years old. Arguably one of the worse Star Wars films, nonetheless it sparked an interest in cinema. An interest that would dictate the rest of my life.
3. Was there a defining moment when you knew filmmaking was your calling?
I’d just finished high school and I was itching to find a job. I’d realized that my life revolved around film, food and football. My father was producing a low budget rice commercial in Bombay and I begged him to let me work on set. He agreed to hire me and pay me a sum of ₹3000 (almost $34) for a day’s work. I was elated. I’d been on the sets before but only as a visitor. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was assigned the role of a clapper. Call the shot, call the take. That’s it! That was the job. I was giddy with excitement. Actors rehearsing simple lines like their lives depended on it, camera crew moving the camera haphazardly, amateur makeup artists doing final touches, the assistant director screaming instructions… The atmosphere was electric. But as soon as the AD said the shot was ready, it was my turn to join the madness. “Shot 1, take 1” and the director yelled “Action!”
The energy in the room shifted from frenetic to calm within a second. I was hooked. I knew this is what I’d be doing for the rest of my life. Creating and manoeuvring energy.
Passion & Inspiration:
4. What fuels your passion for storytelling through films?
The power of film is limitless. It’s an art form that mixes sound, visual and commerce in a way that no other art form does. My desire to tell stories has been present for as long as I can remember, and films are the finest form of sharing stories. You can feel an entire spectrum of emotions in a span of two-three hours. There’s nothing more lovely than watching a good film in a packed theatre. A massive group of strangers feeling the exact same emotions in the exact same time and connecting without realizing. The joy when you hear applause after a fun film, the sadness you feel with
From Mumbai to Los Angeles
The Journey of a Filmmaker behind “Our State”
silence after a sombre film, the contemplation after a Tarkovsky film… Films make you feel human. I am a proponent of this medium. I use it to bring us closer, make us think, make us feel.
5. Who or what have been your strongest creative influences?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Bollywood as one of my early creative influences. I remember being enthralled by Dhoom when it came out. The next day I rode my bicycle and attempted a stunt I saw in the film: standing on the seat with my arms stretched. I fell, obviously. Bruised my whole body. I felt like a Bollywood action star for one tiny moment. It was worth it. As I grew older, I fell in love with American films. They had the extravagance of Bollywood films, but also plots that made you think deeper. The Matrix, Pulp Fiction and The Godfather are few of the many films that fit that bill. Adult life introduced me to international cinema. Kurosawa, Kubrick, Tarkovsky,
encouraging. It’s always nice to see that your work is being received positively. They say you shouldn’t chase external validation, and while that may be true, some external validation doesn’t hurt.
9. Could you take us behind the scenes of making this film — from script to screen?
The script took about six months to get ready, followed by three months of pre-production and planning. I handed the script to my inner circle; people who are brutally honest with my work and asked them to rip the story apart. After about 3 feedback rounds and 6 drafts, we landed on the shooting script. I handed the script to the feedback circle, who connected me to the right people, who then brought on the right crew. Everything happened pretty fast. There were a couple of hiccups, but we got over them pretty quick.
10. What were some of the key challenges you faced during production, and how did you overcome them?
Bergman, Fellini and Godard taught me filmmaking more than a film school ever could.
6. Are there filmmakers, writers, or even personal experiences that continue to shape your voice as a director?
I love Kurosawa and Bergman’s work. And more recently, Denis Villeneuve. I consider these three as my mentors. I’m still developing my voice as a director so personal experiences are a major influence on my work. Experiences I’ve been through and experiences I’ve seen people go through.
On Our State :
7. What sparked the idea for “Our State”?
It was the summer of 2020. I was living in Westwood, LA with a couple of roommates who never spoke a word. Not to each other and certainly not to me. It wasn’t out of spite, they were just quiet people. I love people. People would say I’m a people person. So this new reality was strange. Since I had a lot of time on my hands, I thought I should write a feature film. It was a daunting task. What could I write 90 pages about? I locked myself in my room and stared at the mirror for hours when it finally hit me. This. This reality is what I can write about. A government enforced lockdown and its effect on people. How it was isolating us, making us lonely. The military lockdown stories my father told me when I was younger also rose up. Blending my current reality with my father’s past gave birth to ‘Gaggur’ - the working title of the first draft of Our State. It was 70 pages.
COVID ended, life moved on, I joined a startup and forgot about the script. Then in January 2024, my dear friend and music composer, Alkinoos, coaxed me into making Gaggur. 4 years later, the script didn’t speak to me the way it did in 2020, but I felt there was definitely something hidden inside those 70 pages that could work on screen. That began the process of rewriting. The script went from 70 pages to a crisp 20 pages. And those 20 pages were what were realized onscreen.
8. The film received a thundering applause in Los Angeles — what was that moment like for you?
Surreal. Premiering my film to an international audience in one LA’s most iconic theatres was nothing short of a dream come true. I felt immense gratitude. Over 120 people showed up for a midday matinee show on a Sunday for a short film! We don’t see those crowds even for wide release feature films - I’m working on changing that, though.
I also felt extremely inspired. The feedback was
I’d lost a location and a cinematographer a week before filming. My friends told me I should push the dates to next year but I was annoyingly adamant. It happened for the best because that obstacle introduced me to Eric, the DoP on Our State. Eric’s an excellent cinematographer and now I’m glad to say, a dear friend. We flew to Brazil as soon as we wrapped up.
During production we were fighting against time. We’d planned to get about 200 shots over a course of three days, which meant around 60 shots everyday. I was lucky to have an amazing crew that worked in perfect harmony.
11. Did the film evolve in unexpected ways during its making?
Oh, absolutely. There was the film I wrote, the film we shot, and the film we edited. New ideas emerged and old ideas died during principal photography, so we had to adapt. The core of the film remained the same, but it took on a life of its own once we got to the edit. We added and removed things, made changes and moulded the film to be its best version. Most changes were aesthetic, some were structural, but the final cut was pretty close to what I’d written. It was clearer and crisper.
Craft & Creative Process:
12. How do you generally approach a story — through character, theme, or visuals first?
For Our State, it started with the protagonist ‘Guy’. But it’s the theme and world that attracted me more to the story. The rules of this fictional reality, the forces that moved the environment, and the limitations that pull it back. The lesson I’ve learned is to approach the story character first. People connect with people. Sure, they have relationships with the places they’re in, but it’s their experiences with the people in that place that make them remember that place. I’m a very visual person, so as soon as I map out an outline - be it character or plot - I start drawing frames. Key frames that set the tone for the visual language of the film. Then comes the script, then back to drawing, then script. The process changes with each project. But storyboarding is the one element that always stays.
13. What role does collaboration play in your filmmaking process?
Collaboration is key. Filmmaking is a team effort, through and through. It’s not like painting, sculpting or making a song. It’s a very communal art form. A group of artists come together to create something for (hopefully) a larger group of people. I love this aspect of filmmaking: working with people. On this film, I was the least experienced man on set. I was lucky to be surrounded by thorough professionals who had an amazing capacity to collaborate. My job was knowing what I want and making sure everyone was flowing in the same direction. Suggestions and ideas were welcome, bereft of any ego. If the idea or action made the film better, it’d be taken. After all, this is what it’s all about.
14. How do you strike a balance between artistic vision and real-world constraints such as time, budget, and resources?
Every great filmmaker has to deal with realworld constraints like time, budget, and resources.
There’s never enough. I feel these constraints push a filmmaker to be more creative. For Our State, I knew we didn’t have the money and the resources, so I wrote a script that only had one actor in one location. The best you can do use the resources available to you and get as close to your vision as you possibly can. I work with the constraints. They’re part of the process.
15. What does cinema mean to you — both as an art form and as a cultural force?
Everything. I think it’s the greatest art form in the world. It is the most powerful force. Visual, sound, and commerce working in perfect harmony (if done right). Cinema has the ability to change people. For the better, for the worse. It’s a force of change like no other.
16. Which films or filmmakers do you consider milestones in world cinema?
Seven Samurai changed my life. It’s a film where all genres blended perfectly into one epic saga. Gangs of Wasseypur was another milestone. It’s a film that does something similar to Seven Samurai, but is grounded in a world us Indians are familiar with. Denis Villeneuve’s films never cease to amaze me. Every film pushes further than his last.
17. Are there particular cinematic styles, movements, or traditions that inspire your own work?
Kurosawa’s and Bergman’s way of blocking, Tarantino’s style of writing, Kashyap’s ability to bring out performances and Villeneuve’s persistence in world building.
Looking Ahead:
18. After “Our State”, what stories do you hope to tell next?
I have a whole Notion page full of short stories, feature film ideas, and documentaries waiting to be made. I’m working on a series of short stories right now. One-minute long films that deal with Decisions, Moods, and Thoughts. I’m also developing two features: a romantic-horror film set in Greece and the Our State feature.
19. Do you plan to continue with short films or transition into full-length features?
At this moment in time, I’m leaning more towards shooting short films, while also developing full length features. I love being on set and I have a plethora of short stories that are begging to be realized. Features take more time and resources, so one has to be patient with the process, but these shorter ones can be knocked out pretty quick. Our State was 15 minutes, the “short” ones I’m working on now are less than a minute.
20. What is your larger vision as a filmmaker — where do you see your journey taking you in the next decade?
I aim to tell a story in every genre, in multiple languages, in many parts of the world. I see this journey taking me and my team to the upper echelons of the world.
Reflections & Advice:
21. What do you hope audiences take away from “Our State”?
A sense of gratitude for their safety and community, a rage towards the powers that be, and some enjoyment.
22. Looking back at your journey so far, what lessons stand out the most?
The lesson of patience and urgency. I’ve learned that to be a good director, one has to strike the perfect balance between the two. Urgent with actions, patient with results, while constantly moving the needle forward.
23. What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who want to tell stories that matter?
Don’t wait for the conditions to be perfect, just make the film with whatever you have. Fail fast, fail forward.
24. If you had to sum up your artistic philosophy in a single line, what would it be?
Be brave, Be strong, Be bold
As our conversation draws to a close, one thing becomes clear — this is only the beginning of a larger cinematic journey. From Mumbai to Los Angeles, his path has been fuelled by resilience, curiosity, and an unshakable belief in the power of storytelling.
“Our State” may be his first big step onto the global stage, but it carries within it the promise of many more stories waiting to be told. For him, cinema is not just a medium of entertainment, but a mirror to society, a bridge across cultures, and a way to preserve the fragments of life that often go unnoticed.
If the applause in LA is any indication, the world is ready to listen to you Devansh !
EU's new strategy to lure India away from Russia's orbit
The European Union (EU) proposed a new strategic agenda with India that raises bilateral relations to a higher level amid calls from the United States to hit India with massive tariffs.
In July, the EU sanctioned an Indian refinery that refined Russian crude, ensuring it can't sell to Europe. Since then, US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, half of it as punishment for buying Russian fuel.
But as the EU and the US align their policies against Russia on secondary sanctions for its war in Ukraine, the Trump reportedly called on the bloc to impose up to 100% tariffs on India.
However, the EU seems to have adopted a different approach in its new strategic agenda: lure India away from Russia's orbit of influence through a trade deal and enhanced strategic ties. Kaja Kallas, EU's top diplomat, acknowledged the bloc has
US
"clear areas of disagreement" in reference to India's purchase of Russian oil and India's participation in Russia-led Zapad military exercises in Belarus.
But she added in "turbulent times," perhaps alluding to the stress in the EU's own relations with the US, the bloc needs partnerships.
"Deepening ties with India, not really pushing them to Russia's corner," she said, was agreed upon in conversations among senior EU officials.
An EU official said there might be advantages to a better relationship with India.
may lift penal tariffs on India after November
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday expressed optimism that the US could withdraw its additional 25 per cent penal tariffs on Indian goods after November 30.
Speaking at an event organised by the Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Kolkata, Nageswaran highlighted recent geopolitical and economic shifts as harbingers of relief.
“I still believe that geopolitical circumstances may have led to the second 25 per cent tariff, but considering the developments in the last couple of weeks and so on, I do believe... it is my intuition that… the penal tariff will not be there after November 30,” he said.
Nageswaran’s remarks come just two days after a marathon meeting between US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and India’s chief negotiator and Special Secretary at Ministry of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal in New Delhi on the
next step in trade talks. Both sides held a daylong meeting on Tuesday and decided to intensify efforts for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement, which was announced in February. The negotiations for the trade pact were postponed after President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on select Indian goods.
Initially, the US imposed a baseline 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India to address perceived trade imbalances. However, in August, an additional 25 per cent penal duty was slapped on Indian goods, bringing the total to 50 per cent. The US cited New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict for the tariffs.
According to Nageswaran, the external sector of the economy remains resilient, despite the global headwinds. “Trade continues to be robust in the current financial year,” he said, adding that the foreign exchange reserves were healthy.
CEC shielding ‘vote chors’, undermining democracy
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi again hit out at the Election Commission on Thursday, alleging mass deletion of votes in the Aland constituency in Congress-ruled Karnataka during the 2023 Assembly elections. The poll body denied the allegations, terming these “baseless and incorrect”. Rahul accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of shielding “vote chors” and undermining democracy.
The fresh allegations of vote theft by the Congress leader came just two months after he had, on August 7, levelled similar allegations of large-scale removal of voters’ names in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 General Election.
While the EC said on Thursday that names of
Trump's
voters could not be deleted online by anybody, as “misconceived” by Rahul, it accepted that in 2023, certain unsuccessful attempts were made for the deletion of electors’ names in the Aland Assembly constituency and an FIR was filed by the EC to investigate the matter.
The Aland seat was won by Subhash Guttedar of the BJP in 2018 and BR Patil of the Congress in 2023. The Congress had won the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka. The confrontation between the Congress and the EC has escalated in the runup to the Bihar Assembly polls, where the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to the Opposition amplifying the allegations of large-scale deletion of voters’ names in the garb of revision of the voter list.
birthday call to Modi amid US-India trade talks
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Trump said half of the 50% tariff was a penalty for Delhi's purchase of Russian oil and weapons. India has defended its decision, citing domestic energy needs and called the tariffs "unfair".
The exchange of sharp words between the two sides saw negotiations on the bilateral trade deal stalled.
On Tuesday, a team led by US trade negotiator Brendan Lynch held talks in Delhi with officials from India's commerce ministry.
India's exports to the US fell to $6.86bn (£5.03bn) in August from $8.01bn (£5.87bn) in July, Reuters reported quoting Indian trade ministry data.
Tuesday's meeting between Indian and US trade officials did not mark the start of the next round of trade negotiations, Delhi said, but a "discussion" about "trying to see" how an agreement can be reached.
While Trump has expressed optimism about trade talks with India, he has also not backed
down on the high tariffs imposed on the country. Last week, the US president called on the European Union to hit China and India with tariffs of up to 100% to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
The same week, Trump also wrote on social media that the US and India were "continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers" and that he expected a "successful conclusion" to their trade talks.
In response, Modi had echoed Trump's optimism that the talks would be successful and said the two countries were "close friends and natural partners."
"Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump," he added.
Earlier this month, Trump emphasised the "special relationship" between India and the US, saying "there's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion".
