Title: Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau Accuses Indian Government of Killing Sikh Leader
Date: [Current Date]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a shocking revelation on Monday, accusing “agents of the Indian government” of carrying out the killing of a prominent Sikh community leader in British Columbia last June. Speaking in the House of Commons, Trudeau disclosed that he directly raised India’s involvement in the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Group of 20 summit meeting “in no uncertain terms.” The allegation was based on intelligence gathered by the Canadian government.
Expressing his concern, Trudeau stated, “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” He further emphasized that Canada would exert pressure on India to cooperate fully with the investigation into this tragic incident.
Shortly after Trudeau’s announcement, Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly declared the expulsion of an Indian diplomat, whom she identified as “the head” of Indian intelligence in Canada. The move highlights the seriousness with which Canada views its assertion regarding India’s role in the assassination.
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has caused widespread anger and fear among the large Canadian Sikh community, which consists of an estimated 1.4 to 1.8 million individuals of Indian heritage, with many identifying as Sikhs. Even opposition leader Jagmeet Singh, who heads the New Democratic Party and supports Trudeau’s minority government, is part of this community.
The allegation of the Indian government’s involvement in a calculated killing within Canadian borders is expected to further deteriorate the already strained relations between the two countries. Earlier this month, Canada suspended trade deal negotiations with India, which were set to conclude this year. Moreover, during the G20 summit, Modi excluded Trudeau from the list of leaders with whom he held formal bilateral meetings, adding to the tensions.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot near a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Although the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that he was ambushed by masked men, they did not disclose whether the attack appeared to be politically motivated.
However, Mr. Nijjar was known for advocating the creation of Khalistan, an independent Sikh nation encompassing parts of India’s Punjab state. Consequently, India had declared him a wanted terrorist.
The leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, expressed his outrage, stating, “If these allegations are true, they represent an outrageous affront to Canada’s sovereignty. Our citizens must be safe from extrajudicial killings of all kinds, most of all from foreign governments.”
As this shocking revelation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Canada and India will navigate their strained diplomatic relationship while ensuring justice for the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar and maintaining the safety of their respective citizens.