Relieved but worried for the future, many members of the Canadian Sikh community hope that Ottawa’s shock announcement against the Indian government suspected of being involved in the assassination of one of their leaders, will be the start of a series of actions against “Indian interference”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statements on Monday caused shock waves in both countries and the expulsion of diplomats in the process.
In Canada, the issue has agitated the country for several months and the murder in June in the west of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an activist for the creation of a Sikh state, called Khalistan. Demonstrations have multiplied to demand a thorough investigation.
Mr. Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged acts of terrorism, charges he denied.
“We are happy to see that India will have to be held accountable,” Harkirt Singh Dhadda, a lawyer and prominent member of the Sikh community in the Toronto area, told AFP, who is pleased to see that all Canadian political class has “adopted a firm stance”.
Canada is home to the world’s largest Sikh community outside of India with 770,000 Canadians professing Sikhism, or 2% of the country’s total population.
“The expulsion of a diplomat is a signal, but it is not the only thing expected. We want a full investigation that brings to justice those involved, those who pulled the trigger and those who planned this assassination “, continued Harkirt Singh Dhadda.
This is also the request of the victim’s son, who wished that the Canadian authorities could “go further and put their hands on specific individuals”, during his first public intervention since the murder.
“When we heard the news, we felt a sense of relief that the truth was finally coming out to the public,” added Balraj Singh Nijjar.
On the gates of the Surrey temple in front of which Mr. Nijjar was assassinated on June 18, in British Columbia on the Pacific coast, several posters pay tribute to him, noted an AFP photographer. Inside, in front of the white and blue building, yellow flags with the inscription “Khalistan” fly.
In this community, the anger has not subsided.
“The fact that a political assassination of this nature could have occurred in broad daylight raises serious concerns about the lack of decisive action by the Government of Canada in the fight against Indian interference in Canada,” denounced the officials.
For them, “this attack is the direct result of the impunity that Indian diplomatic and intelligence agents have enjoyed in this country for decades.”
The Canadian police investigation, which Justin Trudeau explained was based on “credible elements” which point in the direction of India, is now in the spotlight, and not only in Canada. New Delhi, for its part, described these accusations as “absurd”.
“I expect Canada to publish more information,” told AFP Jaskaran Sandhu, co-founder of Baaz News, a site for the Sikh community.
“If the government does not take a strong stand and send a strong message, it simply sends a message to the world that citizens are at everyone’s mercy. Canadians of Sikh origin are not the only community facing the foreign interference,” he adds.
The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP, left) and ally of Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh, also asked on Tuesday to include India in the public inquiry launched at the beginning of September into foreign interference, particularly for the benefit of China.
“As a Canadian of Sikh origin, I have always had suspicions about possible interference by India in the democratic rights of Canadians. Yesterday’s announcement (Monday) confirms that these suspicions are valid,” he said. he declared.
Canada must also end intelligence sharing with New Delhi, Sikh officials say. Since 2018, the two countries have established cooperation in anti-terrorism activities, which commits them to cooperation in the financial, judicial and police fields.
An agreement considered problematic and even dangerous by Canadian Sikhs today.
09/20/2023 01:05:56 – Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
