On June 18, a famous Sikh leader was shot on his truck during the summer near a temple in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The incident has caused great anger among his followers and escalated tensions worldwide between Sikh separatists and the Indian government.
The Secrets of His Tragic Murder
On June 18, in the busy parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot in his truck by two masked gunmen. Months later, the unsolved killing continues to have a profound impact, both within Canada and beyond its borders.
In July, hundreds of Sikh separatists took to the streets in Toronto and cities around the world such as London, Melbourne, and San Francisco to protest against the Indian government, which they believe is responsible for Nijjar's death.
More recently, in September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in Nijjar's death. He stated that Canadian intelligence had identified "credible allegations" linking his death to agents of the Indian state.
The Indian government has denied any involvement in the murder.
How a Murder in Canada Ignited a Diplomatic Firestorm
The killing of a 45-year-old individual has sparked widespread outrage and shed light on a longstanding issue. Certain factions have advocated for a separate homeland for Sikhs, who constitute approximately 2% of India's population.
But what are these factions that caused the Sikh diaspora to believe that they need a separate state? The consequences of the current experiences faced by Sikhs can be traced back to the emergence of events in Punjab in 1980, where numerous violent attacks and fatalities occurred. Subsequently, the armed forces conducted special operations against the motion, leading to its decline. However, supporters within the diaspora community have continued to strengthen their demands for an independent state. India has opposed the Khalistan movement, with all mainstream political parties judging violence and separatism, including those in Punjab.
Mr Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader in British Columbia (BC), was an ardent proponent of a separate Khalistan state. His supporters claim that he had previously faced threats due to his activism.
India has accused him of being a terrorist and heading a militant separatist group, allegations that his supporters deem "unfounded". Canadian investigators have yet to ascertain the motive behind his murder or identify any suspects. However, they have classified the incident as a
"targeted" killing. A murder investigation is currently underway by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
On July 8, many individuals gathered in Toronto to protest the death of Mr. Nijjar outside the High Consulate building of India. A smaller counter-protest in favor of the Indian government also occurred at the exact location. The two groups engaged in verbal exchanges across barricades for several hours, and one individual advocating for Khalistan was apprehended after attempting to breach the fence.
Concerns regarding the protest had already been raised before the weekend. Certain posters promoting the Toronto event contained inflammatory language such as "Kill India" and referred to Indian diplomats in Canada as "killers." These posters prompted the Indian government to express its displeasure by summoning the Canadian envoy.
Balpreet Singh, the spokesperson for the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, mentioned that although the Khalistan movement has been relatively inactive and peaceful in recent decades, it has experienced a resurgence, particularly among younger generations who did not witness the violence of the 1980s.
The people in Punjab have largely moved past the idea of a separate Sikh state, even with this revived interest. Gurpreet Singh, a journalist and radio host based in British Columbia who has previously interviewed Mr Nijjar, acknowledged that what is currently observed in Canada is a vocal minority within the Sikh community that supports Khalistan.
Mr. Nijjar Sacrifice His Life for Sikh Independence?
In the United Kingdom, Avtar Singh Khanda, believed to be the leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force, passed away in Birmingham in June under circumstances deemed "mysterious" and potentially linked to poisoning. Paramjit Singh Panjwar designated a terrorist by India, was fatally shot in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, in May.
According to Mr. Singh from the World Sikh Organisation, Mr. Nijjar had been subjected to threats, and he had alerted the Canadian Security Intelligence Service as early as last summer about a possible assassination plot against the Sikh leader. Mr. Nijjar had been organizing a non-binding referendum scheduled for September in Surrey to gauge support for an independent Sikh state as part of a global series of votes aimed at assessing consensus on the formation of Khalistan.
A similar referendum took place last year in Brampton, Ontario, where approximately 160,000 Sikhs reside. Although the results of the vote have not yet been disclosed, the Indian government expressed anger over the estimated turnout of 100,000 people, which challenged their narrative that Khalistan is an extremist or fringe movement.
In response to the referendum, India's Ministry of External Affairs warned of an "increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada," without specifying particular incidents or referencing the referendum. Views on the Khalistan movement in India and the deaths of its proponents like Mr Nijjar vary.
Some Indian commentators attribute Mr. Nijjar's death to internal rivalries among Sikh organizations in Canada. They have also accused Khalistan supporters in Canada of defacing Hindu temples with "anti-India" graffiti and attacking the offices of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa during a protest in March.
Sikhs and specific national security experts in Canada have accused the Indian government of disseminating misinformation through its media to tarnish the Sikh community and those supporting a separate Khalistan state. India has denied these allegations.
Canada Paused Talks On a Landmark Free-Trade Agreement With India
In September, Canada suspended discussions on a significant free-trade agreement with India.
During a G20 meeting between the two nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Canada of insufficient efforts to address "anti-India" sentiments on Canadian soil.
Balpreet Singh believed Canada should adopt a more assertive position against external interference from India, particularly highlighting its impact on the Sikh community. However, he acknowledged that Canada has also served as a platform where many Sikhs who support the Khalistan movement can openly express their views. Despite the loss of Mr Nijjar, the community remains resolute and unyielding.
He emphasized that in Canada, there are no restrictions on discussing Khalistan, stating that attempts to suppress their aspirations for sovereignty would result in the opposite effect.
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