Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a Khalistani supporter killed in June—has become the reason for tension between India and Canada.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, caught the attention of the world on September 18 when he claimed that his government had “credible allegations” that Indian Government agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Sikh separatist was killed outside a cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia.
The claims by Trudeau have created tensions between Indian and Canadian governments. While various Sikh organizations call Nijjar a human rights activist, the Indian Government has identified him as a terrorist involved with the Khalistani movement.
The Canadian government seeks cooperation from the Indian government in the investigation process but India has denied its involvement in the killing. New Delhi has called the allegations absurd.
Najjar was a member of a movement that wanted an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan. Najjar was organizing an unofficial referendum with the support of Sikh for Justice, an organization with a Sikh majority.
In addition to being the president of a Gurudwara, a Sikh temple in Vancouver, Nijjar owned a plumbing business. The Gurudwara in Vancouver had a poster of Nijjar that promoted the referendum to be held on September 19.
In an interview in 2016 with the Vancouver Sun, Nijjar dismissed all allegations of him leading a terrorist cell. The Indian media had reportedly claimed the Nijjar was a leader of a terrorist outfit who had received training from Pakistan.
Najjar told the following to the Vancouver Sun:
“This is garbage — all the allegations. I am living here 20 years, right? Look at my record. There is nothing. I am a hard worker. I own my own business in the plumbing.”
After his death, the World Sikh Organization of Canada spoke highly about Nijjar calling him an ardent supporter of Khalistan who was involved with “peaceful protests against the violation of human rights actively taking place in India and in support of Khalistan.”
An article published on The Hindu mentions the following:
“In 2016, Indian media reported that Nijjar was suspected of masterminding a bombing in the Sikh-majority State of Punjab and training terrorists in a small city southeast of Vancouver. He denied the allegations.”
In the next episode, we will focus more on Nijjar and briefly touch upon the Sikh Independence Movement that shook India in the 1970s and 80s.
How did you find this information? Please mention this in the comments section. We would also like to know the kind of content you want to watch, and we will try to create it for you. For more news and updates, follow Airr News.
#Nijjar #HardeepSinghNijjar #NijjarKilling #KhalistaniTerrorist #Khalistan #KhalistaniSeparatist #Canada #TheGovernmentOfCanada #JustinTrudeau #BanOnCanadianVisa #IndianInvolvementInKilling #TerroistOraganization #TheKhalistaniMovement #IndiraGandhi #NewsInEnglish #AirrNews