Canadian Parliament Observes Moment of Silence to Mark One Year Since Hardeep Singh Nijjar's Killing

In a move that has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows, the Canadian Parliament observed a moment of silence in the House of Commons on Tuesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani leader. Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was brutally killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.

The 45-year-old Nijjar was a declared terrorist in India, wanted in several cases, and was on the list of 40 "designated terrorists" released by the Indian government. A chilling video of his assassination, which emerged in March this year, showed armed men executing what has been termed a "contract killing." Four Indian nationals, including Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh, and Amandeep Singh, were accused of killing Nijjar last year.

The incident has strained the ties between India and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing. India, however, dismissed Trudeau's charges as "absurd" and "motivated." The visa services between the two countries were temporarily suspended, but later resumed.

Why It Matters : The significance of this event lies in the fact that it highlights the ongoing tensions between India and Canada over the issue of separatism and terrorism. India has been asserting that its "core issue" with Canada remains the space given to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements in that country. The Canadian government's decision to observe a moment of silence for Nijjar has sparked concerns about the country's stance on terrorism and its implications for bilateral relations.

Nijjar's background is shrouded in controversy. He was a native of Harsighpur in the Jalandhar district of Punjab and reportedly worked as a plumber before being elected unopposed to head the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, Canada. He had visited Pakistan in 2013-14 to meet with Jagtar Singh Tara of KTF, who was later arrested in Thailand in 2015. Several media outlets claimed that Nijjar ran training camps for Khalistani militants in Missigen Hills in British Columbia.

In 2010, Punjab Police had filed an FIR against Nijjar for his involvement in an explosion near Satya Narayan temple in Patiala. Five years later, another FIR was filed against him for plotting to kill religious leaders. In 2016, he was accused of running a training camp in Canada. Authorities in Canada briefly detained him in April 2018 but released him without any charges being filed.

The incident has also sparked concerns about the growing influence of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. In April this year, pro-Khalistan slogans were raised at a rally attended by Trudeau, where he assured the Sikh community that the government is committed to safeguarding their rights and freedoms at all costs.

Key Takeaway :

• The Canadian Parliament's moment of silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar has strained India-Canada ties, with India accusing Canada of providing a safe haven to separatists and terrorists.
• Nijjar was a declared terrorist in India, wanted in several cases, and was on the list of 40 "designated terrorists" released by the Indian government.
• The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between India and Canada over the issue of separatism and terrorism.
• Nijjar's background is shrouded in controversy, with reports suggesting he ran training camps for Khalistani militants in Canada.
• The incident has sparked concerns about the growing influence of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada and its implications for bilateral relations.

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