TORONTO: Members of a Canadian Sikh group gathered outside the Indian diplomatic missions in Toronto and Ottawa on Monday, a week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of India’s involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.
The protests, which are also planned in Vancouver, are aimed at increasing public awareness about New Delhi’s alleged role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a high Sikh population, organizers said.
Context matters: Indira Gandhi was a tyrant she murdered over 600 Sikhs in their Temple and her Congress and Hindu’s were responsible for the genocide of thousands of Sikh and Modi the #ButcherOfGujarat who is the real terrorist here, had #HardeepSinghNijjar killed a Canadian… https://t.co/JvwQ01cjEv
— Cheryl Benson (@cherylbenson) September 25, 2023
Protesters started chanting “Khalistan live forever” in the Punjabi language, according to media reports.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said last week Canada was pursuing “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government may have been involved in Nijjar’s killing.
#BreakingNews
A Khalistan Protest Unfolds in Front of the Indian Consulate in Toronto. Sikhs are voicing their concerns against Indian interference in Canada. PM @JustinTrudeau has also alleged India's involvement in the assassination of #HardeepSinghNijjar. The second round of… pic.twitter.com/ITrSUWF7qp— Jagdeep Singh (Journalist) (@NyJagdeepsingh) September 25, 2023
India swiftly denied any role in the murder and described the allegations as “absurd”. The accusations have sparked tit-for-tat retaliation from both sides, with each country expelling diplomats and New Delhi suspending visas for Canadians.
The Toronto Police Department said it was aware of the planned demonstrations on Monday but declined to provide details of the security preparations or potential response to any violent situations that may arise during the protest.
Expel IHC Verma, Pro Khalistan Sikhs Rally As “Surgical Strike to Nuking Canada” Echoes In Indian Parliament & Media @1DanStanton @robert_spalding @ashoswai @AdityaRajKaul @puneet_sahani #HardeepSinghNijjar #Khalistani #SalaarCeaseFire #ZEROBASEONE pic.twitter.com/KUcjXoTrU3
— Jagdeep Singh (Journalist) (@NyJagdeepsingh) September 25, 2023
Struggle for Independent Sikh Homeland
Najjar, who worked as a plumber, left the north Indian state of Punjab a quarter-century ago and became a Canadian national. He has supported the formation of an independent Sikh independent state, called Khalistantan, to be created out of Punjab.
New Delhi designated Nijjar a terrorist in July 2020. The Canadian government has amassed both human and signals intelligence in a months-long probe into the Sikh separatist leader.
