Hardeep Singh Nijjar (credit - Global)

By Michael Reeve

Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Allegations of political killing by Indian government in Canada reverberate to Kamloops

Sep 19, 2023 | 4:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was an unprecedented moment on Monday (Sept 18) in Ottawa, when the prime minister announced in parliament that Canadian intelligence connects the Indian government to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

International justice lawyer and member of the Kamloops Sikh community Bill Sundhu was not shocked to hear the news from Trudeau on Monday.

“Over the years, we have viewed India as a friend but we know from the Indian diaspora, the Indian community here, Canadians, that for the last 40 years there has been a great deal of concern and suspicion about Indian agents, Indian government, disinformation, targeting members of the Sikh community but other Indians as well,” said Sundhu.

TRU assistant political science professor Saira Bano has focused her studies on India, a country that has been divided for many decades. Under new leadership, she stated the perception of India has changed.

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“The recent trends we have seen… is there is democratic backsliding in India. The Indian government, Modi government, is being accused of Hindu extremism, deviation from secularism, there is human rights violations, minority rights violations,” Bano told CFJC News.

The idea of an independent state in India is not new, and while differences most certainly exist, Sundhu believes the vast majority of Sikhs don’t support an independent home land.

“We have been down that pathway in 1947. It led to horrific violence, the death of millions, the partition of the Punjab, the movement of 14 to 15 million people — and the consequences reverberate to today,” said Sundhu.

Relations between Canada and India were strained long before the shocking announcement on Monday. To that end, keeping up diplomatic relations will likely be difficult but necessary for Trudeau and Canada.

“Until and unless you have stable political relations, you can’t have trade. India and Canada need to discuss this issue and find a diplomatic solution. India has been complaining about a pro-Khalistan movement here in Canada, protest here in Canada,” added Bano.

While the announcement was only made this week, the investigations into the murder have been ongoing since June. Sundhu, who serves on the list of counsel for the International Criminal Court at The Hague, says getting justice will not be easy.

“If there is evidence to support these allegations, I suspect we will never get the full picture because there is a difference between criminal prosecution in our country which has to be beyond a reasonable doubt. The persons who executed Mr. Nijjar have likely fled the country,” said Sundhu.

Because of that, Sundhu says this should serve as a wake up call for Canada.

“We have been complacent. We need to up our laws, we need to resource our intelligence, our police to protect Canadians from any threat,” added Sundhu.

Since the announcement on Monday, India has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated” and have since expelled a Canadian diplomat from Indian soil.