Outrage in India over Toronto event's permissiveness of separatist shouts

April 30
On Monday, India summoned the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to convey "deep concern and strong protest" over the elevation of separatist chanting in favour of a Sikh nation during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's address.

Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that his country was "actively pursuing credible allegations" that Indian operatives were involved in the death of a Canadian citizen in June 2023, which led to a deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Sikh community in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, was rocked on June 18 when 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down outside a temple. In July 2020, Nijjar was labelled as a "terrorist" by India for his support of a Sikh homeland through an independent Khalistani state.

Any official involvement of the government in Nijjar's murder has been denied by New Delhi. Indian officials expressed "deep concern and strong protest" about the "being allowed to continue unchecked at the event" on Monday, according to the country's foreign affairs ministry.

"We will always be there to protect your rights and your freedoms, and we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination," Trudeau said. Outside of India's Punjab region, Canada is home to the largest concentration of Sikhs, and the country's history of protests has irritated India. There was a delay in a response from the Canadian foreign ministry.