INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, following an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Modi said in a post on X on Friday morning: “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month.”
Modi added: “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.”
For the past few days the Indian media had been reporting that Modi had not been invited to attend the G7 Summit though he had attended every G7 Summit since 2019.
A few hours after Modi’s announcement, Carney said in a statement that he spoke with Modi. “The two leaders discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links. Importantly, there was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns,” he added.
Carney said that he extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit, adding that they “agreed to remain in contact and looked forward to meeting at the G7 Leaders’ Summit.”
Meanwhile, the World Sikh Organization of Canada called the invitation to Modi “a betrayal of Sikh Canadians.”
It said in a statement: “On May 21, the WSO sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Carney urging him not to invite Prime Minister Modi. The letter detailed India’s well-documented campaign of transnational repression targeting Sikhs in Canada, including the 2023 assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the RCMP’s confirmation of “clear and compelling evidence” of Indian government agents engaging in criminal activities on Canadian soil.”
It added: “The timing of today’s announcement, June 6, is particularly hurtful for Sikhs. It coincides with the commemoration of the 1984 Indian Army assault on Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and dozens of other gurdwaras, which left thousands of Sikhs dead. The G7 Summit itself is set to take place just days before the second anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2025.”
The federal NDP said it joins the Sikh community in condemning the invitation to Modi and called on the government to rescind it. NDP critic for Public Safety and National Security Jenny Kwan and NDP critic for Foreign Affairs Heather McPherson expressed deep concern.
Kwan said: “This decision is profoundly troubling and deeply hurtful to the Sikh community in Canada. It is unconscionable that the government would roll out the red carpet for Prime Minister Modi, whose regime has been directly implicated in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This form of transnational repression is a direct threat to the diaspora community and Canada’s sovereignty. The government must explain how justice and human rights are being upheld through this invitation.
“At a time when India refuses to cooperate with Canadian authorities and denies responsibility for extrajudicial killings, this move undermines efforts to hold foreign powers accountable for interference and violence in our country.”
McPherson said: “Inviting Prime Minister Modi sends the wrong message—not only to the Sikh community but to all Canadians who believe in the rule of law.”
She added: “Canadians expect the government to stand in solidarity with Canadians who have expressed their concerns about the BJP government’s record and human rights violations in India. Some of these Canadians live in fear of threat of reprisal against themselves and their families. Canada must stand on the side of human rights, justice, and accountability—not diplomatic expediency.”
