Canadian Sikh Community, political leaders and leading Sikh Organizations are calling on Canadian intelligence and law enforcement to fully investigate and get to the bottom of the shooting that killed vocal Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18 outside Surrey Gurdwara.
While the police said no suspects have been arrested and no motive has been determined so far, Sikh organizations and many Nijjar supporters are speculating the role of foreign interference in his killing for his support for a Khalistan.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) asked law enforcement to fully investigate which WSO referred as the “assassination” including the role of foreign interference. “The Government of India’s National Intelligence Agency had placed a bounty of one million rupees for his capture in July 2022. Nijjar denied being involved in any criminal activity and said he was being targeted for his advocacy in support of Khalistan. Nijjar was placed on India’s ‘blacklist’ and Indian authorities seized and appropriated the land he held in his native village in Punjab, as punishment for his activism,” said WSO in a statement.
“CSIS has known that Nijjar faced an imminent threat to his life for months. The fact that he was assassinated in this manner is a failure of these bodies to provide protection to someone they knew would be targeted,” said WSO President Tejinder Singh Sidhu.
WSO also stated that Nijjar’s killing follows that of other Khalistan supporters in recent months. “Last week, Avtar Singh Khanda, a prominent Khalistan activist in the UK, died in suspicious circumstances. In May, another prominent Khalistan supporter, Paramjeet Singh Panjwar, was killed in a targeted shooting in Lahore, Pakistan.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wrote a letter to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino informing that the Sikh Community feels “worried and unsafe than they has previously.”
“In that vein, I’m calling on you and your department to do everything within your power to get to the bottom of this murder and to address the various allegations reported by the Toronto Star and the Vancouver Sun.”
New Democrat Caucus MLAs also issued a statement in which they expressed deep shock by the horrific killing of Nijjar. “This was an abhorrent act of violence, made even more disturbing by its presence at a place of worship where people go to find peace. We must all stand against it as a community. Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating. They have our full support as they work to bring those responsible to justice.” The statement was jointly signed by Ravi Kahlon, Harry Bains, Rachna Singh, Bruce Ralston, Jinny Sims, Garry Begg, Mike Starchuk, Jagrup Brar, Aman Singh.
Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal along with Sikh caucus members also met with Public Safety Minister regarding the tragic incident at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Dhaliwal said, “He assured us that our government is working closely with law enforcement to solve this crime and protect the Sikh community and all Canadians.”
While IHIT says Nijjar was definitely “targeted,” Pierotti said no link has been made between his political activity and his killing.
“We’re open to any potential motive at this time,” he said.
“When an event like this happens, particularly in a populated area and at a place of worship, it does bring fear to a community,” Pierotti said, adding, “We have no reason to believe the Sikh community is at risk.”
