The Canadian Parliament, in a move that has drawn significant criticism, observed a moment of silence in memory of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed a year ago. Greg Fergus, the Speaker of the House of Commons, called on members of parliament to participate in the moment of silence, which had been agreed upon by the house as a means to pay their respects to Nijjar.
Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was a known figure in the Khalistani movement, a separatist movement seeking to establish an independent Sikh state in India. He was killed by shooters outside a Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. Four Indian nationals – Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh – have been accused of carrying out his assassination. Nijjar, along with 40 other individuals, was designated a terrorist by the Indian government.
Nijjar’s death has cast a shadow over India-Canada relations, with India accusing Canada of harboring Khalistani terrorists. Ottawa, on the other hand, has blamed New Delhi for the killing of its citizens on Canadian soil.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while acknowledging the tensions, expressed an alignment with India on several key issues and highlighted opportunities for engagement with the new Indian government, particularly in areas of economic ties and national security.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Canadian police have charged three individuals with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to Nijjar’s assassination. This incident underscores the complex and sensitive nature of India-Canada relations and highlights the challenges in addressing terrorism and separatist movements within the global context.
