THE World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) said in a statement on Tuesday that it solemnly commemorates the one-year anniversary of the targeted assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the hands of agents of the Government of India.
It added that Nijjar’s death was a pivotal moment for Sikhs in Canada, exposing the depth of Indian interference in Canadian affairs. “On this occasion, the WSO calls upon the Canadian government to take decisive action to hold India accountable for Bhai Nijjar’s assassination and its foreign interference activities in Canada. Additionally, the WSO urges Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau to ensure that Indian Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi is not invited to the G7 meeting scheduled to take place in Kananaskis, Alberta, in 2025.”
The WSO noted that on June 18, 2023, Nijjar was brutally murdered in a targeted shooting in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey where he served as president. Nijjar was a prominent advocate for Khalistan and a vocal critic of human rights violations in India. On September 18, 2023, Trudeau announced in Parliament that credible evidence exists to substantiate the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjar’s assassination on Canadian soil. Four Indian nationals have been arrested in connection with the murder.
The WSO said: “Bhai Nijjar’s assassination is part of a disturbing pattern of targeted killings of Sikh leaders both in Canada and globally. Evidence has emerged of a nexus between the Government of India and criminal gangs targeting Sikh activists. Several Canadian Sikhs continue to face threats to their lives and have received Duty to Warn notices.”
|It added: “Since Bhai Nijjar’s assassination, more information has surfaced about the extent of Indian interference in Canada. The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference has acknowledged that India is the second most prolific source of foreign interference in Canada and directed interference activities related to the 2019 and 2021 general elections.
“A report released by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) earlier this month revealed that India engages in foreign interference activities targeting Canada, transferring funds to Canadian politicians at all levels in exchange for political favors and raising issues in Parliament. Some MPs have allegedly worked to influence their colleagues on India’s behalf and leaked confidential information to Indian officials.”
WSO President Danish Singh said: “Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination marks a turning point for Sikhs in Canada, as India’s four-decade-long record of targeting Sikh activists has finally started coming to light. While Bhai Nijjar was targeted by India to silence advocacy for Khalistan and frighten the Sikh community, the reaction has been the opposite. Sikhs are now speaking about and advocating for Khalistan in ways not seen for decades, in Canada, Punjab and across the world.
“India continues to show blatant disregard for international law and the sovereignty of foreign states, positioning itself as a hostile state actor. Canada-India relations cannot return to business as usual. It is imperative that Canada holds India accountable. While the hitmen who shot Bhai Hardeep Singh have been arrested, it is even more critical to expose and hold accountable those in the Government of India who ordered this killing. Furthermore, India’s proxies in Canada, whether they are Members of Parliament or otherwise, must be named and exposed to restore confidence in our democratic institutions.
“Finally, with Canada taking the presidency of the G7 in 2025 and the next summit set to take place in Kananaskis, Alberta, we call on Prime Minister Trudeau to ensure that Indian Prime Minister Modi is not invited. Sikhs do not wish to see India’s Prime Minister enter Canada with the blood of Canadian Sikhs on his hands.
“We call on the Sikh community to remain vigilant and continue to demand accountability from our politicians.”
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