Two groups in Canada’s Sikh diaspora are calling on Canada’s political parties to present “a united front” toward India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a “possible connection” between the shooting of a local leader and the Indian government.
In a joint statement, the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council say “Canadian parties of all stripes must make it unequivocally clear” that they reject possible foreign interference in the June death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau announced in Parliament on September 18 that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating possible links between the Indian government and the fatal shooting of Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.
India, which had issued an arrest warrant against Nijjar over his support for an independent Sikh state, dismissed the accusation as “absurd and motivated”.
Federal leaders have spoken out against possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s death. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said shortly after Trudeau’s announcement that Canada “must be united for our home and for each other” and called on the prime minister to provide “more facts” surrounding the death case.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who is himself a Sikh, said he has written directly to Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Marie-Josee Hogue asking for India’s involvement in Canada’s probe into foreign interference.
Hogue is leading the 16-month investigation, which is expected to look into alleged interference in Canadian affairs by countries including China and Russia.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2023.
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