UNITED NATIONS: Australia announced on Wednesday that it had expressed concerns to India on the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province.
In response to Canadian claims that India was responsible for the murder of a Canadian citizen, Foreign Minister Penny Wong remarked to reporters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session: “These are concerning reports.”
She emphasized Australia’s close monitoring of the situation in coordination with its international partners. When asked if Australia had communicated its concerns to India, Wong confirmed that they had raised the matter with Indian authorities but declined to provide further details.
Addressing the safety of Indian Sikhs in Australia, Wong highlighted that her country values and allows for the peaceful expression of diverse viewpoints, which is a fundamental aspect of Australian democracy.
The Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot on June 18 in Surrey, British Columbia, near a Sikh temple, and no arrests have been made so far. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested “credible allegations” that the Indian government may be linked to Nijjar’s death, adding to the diplomatic tension.
Nijjar was known for supporting an independent Khalistani state in the Punjab region. While the Indian government has labeled him a terrorist, his supporters disputed this characterization.
During the recent G-20 summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concerns to Trudeau about Sikh separatist protests in Canada.
Earlier, Canada expelled a “top Indian diplomat” and demanded India’s full cooperation in investigating the incident. Reports suggested that the diplomat was Pavan Kumar Rai, allegedly associated with India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
However, India dismissed these allegations as “absurd” and called for Ottawa to act against anti-India elements operating within its borders. In response, India ordered the expulsion of a senior Canadian diplomat in New Delhi within five days in a tit-for-tat move.
