The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, disclosed that Canadian intelligence has connected Indian officials to a high-profile murder on Canadian soil, a claim that has stirred debates within the national security sphere and among leaders of Canada’s Sikh communities.
In a formal address to the House of Commons, Trudeau described the incident as an unacceptable breach of Canadian sovereignty, underscoring the seriousness of a foreign government’s actions on Canadian territory.
Following these remarks, Canada’s foreign affairs minister stated that one individual, described as a key diplomat tied to Indian intelligence, was deported as part of the ongoing investigation. The government asserted that it will not tolerate any interference and remains steadfast in defending the country’s sovereignty.
The Prime Minister noted that Canadian authorities had conveyed their grave concerns to senior security and government officials in India as part of a confidential diplomatic dialogue aimed at clarifying the incident.
Trudeau mentioned the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot in a Surrey precinct last June. Nijjar, a leader associated with Sikh community movements, had been labeled a terrorism suspect by Indian authorities due to advocacy for Khalistan, a political project seeking an independent nation for Sikhs in Punjab.
During discussions with Canada’s leadership, intelligence services presented evidence suggesting Indian involvement in Nijjar’s death. The Prime Minister indicated that he had urged India to cooperate fully with Canadian authorities to resolve the matter, highlighting the extreme gravity of the situation.
Earlier in the year, Canada announced the suspension of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement with India and canceled a planned trade mission that was slated for October, actions that signaled a shift in bilateral economic relations amid the diplomatic tensions.
Canada has a significant population of Indian origin, with hundreds of thousands identifying as Sikhs. The country’s political landscape includes representation from the New Democratic Party and other major parties, who have shown varying levels of engagement with the issue and with Canada’s broader strategy toward India and the Sikh diaspora.