The Parliament of Canada observed a minute of silence on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In June 2023, Nijjar, identified as a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey. The incident escalated tensions between India and Canada, exacerbated when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested possible involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s death. Nijjar’s name was among 40 individuals listed as ‘designated terrorists’ by the Indian government.

Canada has detained four Indian nationals in relation to the incident. India has consistently stated that Canada has not officially communicated about the Sikh separatist killing or the arrests. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly dismissed Canadian accusations as ‘absurd and driven by ulterior motives.’

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Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau met during the G7 summit in Italy. After their meeting, the Canadian PM highlighted a mutual commitment between the two nations to tackle crucial issues moving forward.

Earlier this month, Trudeau extended congratulations to PM Modi on his re-election, affirming, ‘Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory. Canada is prepared to collaborate with his administration to enhance relations between our peoples—emphasizing human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.’

In reply, PM Modi expressed, ‘India anticipates collaborating with Canada on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for each other’s priorities.’

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