Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar and why his murder has led to a diplomatic row

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that there’s “credible proof” implicating brokers of the Indian authorities within the homicide of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June throughout a session within the Home of Commons.

Two “heavy-set suspects” had been believed to be the assailants, with a 3rd suspect serving because the getaway driver, in accordance with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s built-in murder investigation workforce. No suspects have been apprehended thus far.

Trudeau firmly said, “Any involvement of a international authorities within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

Following Trudeau’s assertion in Parliament, Canadian Overseas Minister Melanie Joly introduced the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat from Canada.

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Nijjar was a Sikh chief based mostly in Surrey, BC, who was fatally shot outdoors his gurdwara on June 18. In accordance with a report by International Information, a Canadian information portal, Nijjar labored as a plumber and in addition served because the president of the Sikh temple, the place he was killed. He arrived in Canada in 1997 and initially claimed refugee standing utilizing a false passport. Regardless of his refugee declare being rejected, he married a lady who sponsored his immigration. Nonetheless, this too was rejected.

Nijjar advocated for a referendum on Khalistan, a separate Sikh state in India’s Punjab area and was instrumental in organising an unofficial referendum among the many Sikh diaspora in Surrey.

In 2016, Nijjar was accused of being linked to a 2007 bombing in Punjab by the state’s police and an FIR was additionally filed. The bombing resulted in six deaths and 42 injured in Ludhiana, Punjab. On the time, the Punjab Police was involved with Canada “sheltering Khalistani terrorists”. This case was ultimately handed to the Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA).

In 2018, the NIA registered two instances in reference to the 2016 terrorist assault in Punjab and a second for conspiring to assault alleged right-wing leaders in India in opposition to Nijjar.

Nijjar was additionally accused of main the Khalistan Terror Power and working coaching camps in British Columbia to arrange sympathisers for potential terror assaults in India. Nijjar strongly denied these accusations and claimed to be a peaceable activist.

Homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June 2023. His lawyer, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, revealed that the Canadian Safety Intelligence Service (CSIS) had lately knowledgeable Nijjar about threats to his life. Following his homicide, there have been rapid speculations relating to the Indian authorities’s involvement.

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Trudeau asserted that Canada possesses credible info linking India to the homicide, which he raised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout a current G20 assembly in India.

India rejects allegations

India categorically rejected Trudeau’s declare, deeming it “baseless.” The Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs said that allegations of Indian authorities involvement in violence in Canada are “absurd and motivated.” It emphasised India’s dedication to the rule of legislation and pointed to the sheltering of Khalistani terrorists and extremists in Canada as a urgent concern.

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“Such unsubstantiated allegations search to shift the main target from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who’ve been supplied shelter in Canada and proceed to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity…The inaction of the Canadian Authorities on this matter has been a long-standing and persevering with concern,” the MEA mentioned.

The ministry, in its assertion, added, “We urge the Authorities of Canada to take immediate and efficient authorized motion in opposition to all anti-India parts working from their soil.”

(With company inputs)

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