Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly accused the Indian government of being behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The incident, which occurred months ago, has raised serious concerns over the involvement of foreign entities in Canadian soil.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, and a prominent figure in Surrey’s Sikh community, was tragically gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Nijjar had been declared an “absconder” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India and was wanted in connection with a conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, India.
Prime Minister Trudeau, addressing the media, stated that Canada’s national security officials had credible reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” were responsible for the killing. He strongly emphasized that any foreign government’s involvement in the death of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil was an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves,” Prime Minister Trudeau asserted.
Trudeau revealed that Canadian security agencies had actively pursued allegations of a potential link between the Indian government and Nijjar’s assassination. He also disclosed that Canada was coordinating with its allies on this matter, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
“As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter,” Trudeau stated, signaling the international implications of the case.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Trudeau called upon the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in the investigation. He expressed concern for the Indo-Canadian community, some of whom he believed were “angry” and “perhaps frightened” by recent events. Trudeau urged unity and resilience, emphasizing the need to maintain the fundamental principles of a free and democratic society.
This accusation comes following the NIA’s announcement last year of a ₹10 lakh cash reward for information leading to Nijjar’s arrest in connection with the conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest in Jalandhar. The NIA had identified Nijjar as a key figure in the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), operating under his leadership.
