Toronto: On Tuesday, Canada’s House of Commons observed a “moment of silence” to mark the first anniversary of the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. The observation was announced by Speaker Greg Fergus following a cross-party agreement.
Simultaneously, a large protest took place outside India’s consulate in Vancouver. Pro-Khalistan demonstrators, including Sikhs for Justice general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused Indian diplomats of involvement in Nijjar’s killing. Protesters displayed posters of Talwinder Singh Parmar, mastermind of the 1985 Air India bombing.
Pannun reiterated calls for boycotting Air India from June 23, the anniversary of the bombing. India’s consulate condemned the attack, reaffirming its commitment to counter-terrorism.
Nijjar’s murder strained India-Canada relations, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging potential Indian involvement last September. India denied the claims, and investigations continue without conclusive evidence of Indian agents’ involvement. Nijjar, labeled a terrorist by India, faced charges untested in Canadian courts.
