Tensions between India and Canada have escalated following suspicions in Canada of India’s involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has now directed Canada to repatriate 41 of its 62 diplomats by October 10, as reported by the Financial Times.
This directive comes amidst a “climate of violence” and perceived “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada, according to Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. While Canada has linked India’s top intelligence agent to Nijjar’s murder, leading to his expulsion, India retaliated by expelling a Canadian diplomat and labelled Canada’s claims “absurd.”
Profile of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, originally from Jalandhar district in Punjab, India, relocated to Canada in 1997. While initially connected to the Babbar Khalsa International Sikh separatist group, he later took on a leadership role with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a militant outfit.
The Indian government designated him a “terrorist,” alleging his participation in disruptive activities. Despite such allegations, within the Sikh community, particularly those advocating for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan, Nijjar was a significant figure. At the time of his assassination, he was the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, Vancouver.
