OTTAWA: Two prominent Sikh organizations in the Canadian Sikh diaspora, the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council and the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, have jointly called upon political parties of Canada to “hold a united front” against India in light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent statement concerning a “possible link” between the assassination of a Sikh leader and the Indian government.
In a joint statement, the two Sikh groups emphasized that “Canadian parties of all stripes must be unequivocally clear” in expressing their opposition to any potential foreign interference related to the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., near the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.
On September 18, Prime Minister Trudeau informed the Parliament that Canadian intelligence agencies were conducting an investigation into potential connections between the Indian government and Nijjar’s fatal shooting.
India’s Involvement in Sikh Leader’s Assassination
India had previously issued an arrest warrant for Nijjar due to his advocacy for an independent Sikh state, Khalistan. The Indian government has dismissed these allegations as “absurd and motivated.”
Canada’s federal leaders have also voiced their concerns regarding possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s death. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, in response to Trudeau’s statement, emphasized the need for unity and requested further information about the case.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, himself a Sikh, reached out to Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, who is leading a 16-month inquiry into foreign interference in Canada. Jagmeet Singh has requested the inclusion of India in the inquiry’s scope, a move aimed at investigating potential Indian involvement in Canadian affairs.
