THE Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society, Surrey–Delta, on Wednesday said that in view of the recent actions of the FBI in connection to the assassination of the then-gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the parking lot of the Gurdwara on June 18, 2023, the Government of Canada must commit to strengthening protection for Canadians who have been identified by law enforcement as potential targets of foreign-state intimidation or violence, ensuring their safety remains a national priority.
The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday announced, among other things, that notorious Indian gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar have been charged with ordering Nijjar’s assassination.
Indian nationals Karanpreet Singh, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder against Nijjar. They are in custody in Canada.
The GNSG Society demanded that the government “publicly reaffirm its commitment to transparency by releasing as much information as possible regarding alleged Indian foreign interference and transnational repression in Canada,” and “continue the October 2024 parliamentary study on electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the Government of India and ensure that a final report is tabled in the House of Commons.”
It also demanded that the government “establish an independent public inquiry, at the earliest opportunity, into the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar and any other alleged acts of coercion, intimidation, or violence linked to agents of the Government of India, while ensuring ongoing criminal investigations and prosecutions are not compromised,” and “hold accountable all individuals and organizations found to have participated in, facilitated, or directed acts of foreign interference or transnational repression on Canadian soil.”
The GNSG Society also demanded that the government “reaffirm that Canada’s sovereignty, the rule of law, and the safety of its citizens will not be compromised by diplomatic or economic considerations.”
The GNSG Society noted that prior to his assassination, the RCMP advised Nijjar multiple times that his life was in imminent danger. Despite these warnings, “Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was assassinated on Father’s Day, June 18, 2023,” it added.
It said that then-prime minister Justin Trudeau later stated in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” linking agents of the Government of India to Nijjar’s killing. “The Government of Canada subsequently expelled six Indian diplomats in connection with concerns arising from the ongoing investigation, reflecting the seriousness with which Canadian authorities have treated this case,” it added.
The GNSG Society said: “The repeated “Duty to Warn” notices issued by Canadian law enforcement agencies to Sikh activists demonstrate that the security concerns identified by Canadian authorities extend beyond a single individual. On the other hand, U.S. authorities have disrupted alleged assassination plots targeting prominent Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice. These developments, taken together, have raised broader concerns about alleged transnational repression targeting Sikh activists across North America.”
