Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday the Authorities of India might have carried out the homicide of Sikh neighborhood chief and gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down on June 18 within the car parking zone of his Surrey, British Columbia place of worship. Nijjar advocated for the institution of an unbiased Sikh state referred to as “Khalistan” within the Indian state of Punjab, the place Sikhs are the non secular majority.
Trudeau addressed the Home of Commons, saying that Canadian intelligence companies are exploring “credible allegations of a possible hyperlink” between India’s authorities and the killing of Nijjar, who was a Canadian citizen. “Any involvement of a international authorities within the killing of a Canadian Citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It’s opposite to the basic guidelines by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” Trudeau stated.
Throughout his speech, Trudeau reported that he confronted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the accusations whereas the 2 leaders met in the course of the G20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month. The Canadian PM stated that his authorities will take “all steps” to carry these liable for the homicide accountable and referred to as on the Indian authorities to cooperate within the ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s killing.
Canadian Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie added {that a} “prime Indian diplomat” was expelled from Canada in response to the allegations.
New Democratic Celebration chief Jagmeet Singh, who’s Sikh, reacted to Trudeau’s announcement, saying:
I grew up listening to that if you happen to raised issues about human rights violations in India, you then is likely to be denied a visa, that if you happen to went again to India, you possibly can endure violence, torture and even loss of life. I grew up listening to these tales, however to listen to the Prime Minister of Canada corroborate a possible hyperlink between a homicide of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil by a international authorities is one thing that I may by no means have imagined.
Indian authorities have beforehand claimed Nijjar led a terrorist group referred to as “Khalistan Tiger Power,” which they are saying was liable for a 2007 cinema bombing in Punjab. Nijjar had beforehand been the subject of a 2014 Interpol pink discover issued by India in relation to the bombing. In 2016 Indian intelligence companies additionally accused Nijjar of working a terror camp in British Columbia to hold out assaults in Punjab. Nijjar denied the accusations.
Tensions have remained excessive between India’s authorities and Khalistan separatists. Throughout this month’s G20 summit, Modi took situation with ongoing pro-Khalistan protests in Canada whereas assembly Trudeau. In July, one particular person was arrested exterior the Indian consulate in Toronto throughout a protest and counter-protest following Nijjar’s loss of life. Throughout the dueling demonstrations, Khalistan activists accused India of being behind the killing, whereas pro-India counter-protesters labeled the rallying Khalistan supporters extremists.
In April, Indian authorities arrested Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh on costs of tried homicide following a 35-day manhunt which noticed web service quickly suspended in Punjab. The Indian authorities additionally summoned Canada’s Excessive Commissioner to India one month previous to his arrest following a protest exterior India’s Vancouver consulate in assist of Amritpal Singh and towards Punjab’s web blackout.
There may be presently an unofficial international referendum organized by the US-based Sikhs for Justice group asking whether or not Sikhs need an unbiased Punjab. The referendum is ongoing.
Neither Modi nor the Indian authorities has responded to Trudeau’s statements on the time of publication.
