Justin Trudeau implicated Indian government in shooting of Canadian religious leader

Posted On: September 19, 2023

Justin Trudeau and Narendra Modi

Canadian security agencies are investigating “credible accusations” of a possible link between Indian government agents and the murder of a Sikh leader in British Columbia last JuneThe Prime Minister reported Justin Trudeau in an emergency declaration to the House of Commons.

“Canada has expressed its deep concern to the Indian government’s top intelligence and security officials. Any involvement by a foreign government in the murder of a Canadian on Canadian soil constitutes an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.“, declared the North American president.

And he added: “This is contrary to the fundamental rules that govern free, open and democratic societies. »

At the end of his speech, Trudeau said he had shared this concern with the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modiat the G20 summit last week. “I continue to strongly urge the Indian government to cooperate with Canada to shed light on this situation.”he declared in closing.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had “credible allegations” of a possible link between Indian government agents and the assassination of a Sikh leader.

Hardeep Singh Nijjarreference of Sikhism, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, United Kingdom, on June 18. Years before his death, he had been accused of terrorism by Indian authorities for having defended the creation in the state of Punjab of an independent country – under the name of Khalistan – for the Sikh minority.

Along with this, India’s National Investigation Agency indicted him in 2018. the crimes of sedition, criminal conspiracy, promoting discord and various crimes related to the Unlawful Activities Act. Later, in 2022, a reward of 100,000 rupees was announced for anyone who captured him.

As indicated Reuters, Approximately 1.8 million people of Indian origin live on Canadian territory, including approximately 770,000 Sikhs. Among them, the leader of the social-democrat New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, the fourth party in the Canadian Parliament, is Sikh.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leading figure in Sikhism, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, United Kingdom, on June 18.

After Nijjar’s death, Relations between Canada and India have become somewhat strained. So much so that on September 1, the Canadian government announced the suspension of negotiations with India with a view to signing a free trade agreement, without explaining the reasons. He also postponed a trade mission between the two countries.

With information from Reuters