Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a proponent of Sikh independence from India, was fatally shot on June 18th outside a Sikh cultural center in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

India has strongly denied any involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada and dismissed the allegations as “absurd.” In response, India has expelled a senior Canadian diplomat, accusing Canada of interfering in India’s internal affairs.

This development comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made statements suggesting credible links between India and the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who advocated for Sikh independence from India. Nijjar was killed outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18th, leading Canada to expel a high-ranking Indian diplomat.

Trudeau, addressing the Canadian Parliament, condemned any foreign government’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, emphasizing it as an infringement of sovereignty. He urged India to cooperate with Canada in investigating the matter.

Tensions between Canada and India have been mounting, impacting trade talks and resulting in the cancellation of a planned trade mission to India.

In its official statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concerns over Canadian diplomats interfering in India’s internal matters and participating in anti-India activities.

At the time of his death, Nijjar was organizing an unofficial referendum in India for an independent Sikh nation. Indian authorities had announced a cash reward for information leading to Nijjar’s arrest, accusing him of involvement in an alleged attack on a Hindu priest in India.

India has repeatedly accused Canada of supporting the Sikh independence, or Khalistan, movement, which is banned in India but has a following in countries with significant Sikh diaspora populations, including Canada and the UK.

Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a G20 meeting in New Delhi, emphasizing that any Indian government involvement would be unacceptable.

India dismissed these allegations as “absurd and motivated” and urged Canada to address the threat posed by the Khalistan movement to the Canadian Indian diaspora.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced the expulsion of a top Indian diplomat and noted that the investigation into Nijjar’s killing is an active homicide investigation led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Trudeau also discussed the matter with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada described Nijjar as a vocal Khalistan supporter who actively protested against human rights violations in India and in support of Khalistan. Nijjar had reportedly received warnings from Canadian intelligence officials about being targeted for assassination before his death.

The Indian opposition party, the Congress Party, supported Modi’s stance and emphasized the importance of prioritizing the country’s interests and the fight against terrorism, especially when it threatens sovereignty.

India has a history of targeting Sikh separatism since the 1980s, with a significant armed insurgency for an independent Sikh state in Punjab state. The 1984 storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by Indian forces led to a controversial operation and subsequent anti-Sikh riots across northern India.

Source: with agencies