In the Canadian Sikh community, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was well-known for his ties to the Khalistan cause. Nijjar reportedly applied for admission as a refugee and made fruitless attempts to go to Canada. He was born in Canada and naturalized on March 3, 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada claimed after Nijjar’s murder that his murder was connected to the Indian government by Canadian intelligence.
The life and activities of Hardeep Singh Nijjar were characterized by his affiliation with the Khalistan movement. the disputes about his purported participation in illegal activities in India. His biography became even more complicated after his terrible assassination in Canada and the ensuing diplomatic spat between India and Canada.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar Controversy Explained
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The controversy surrounding Hardeep Singh Nijjar centers on his significant contribution to the Khalistan movement. a separatist movement known as Khalistan that aims to establish an independent Sikh country. Originally from Punjab, Nijjar relocated to Canada in 1997. In addition, he rose to prominence in the Sikh diaspora.
Indian officials took notice of his contentious activism. He was called a “terrorist” and charged with several offenses meant to undermine India’s stability. Nijjar was charged with encouraging strife between groups and engaging in violent behavior.
His murder in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023 heightened tensions between India and Canada. Allegations were made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government was involved in Nijjar’s murder. The result was a diplomatic spat between the two nations. The Nijjar controversy highlights the difficulties in handling diaspora activism resulting from Sikh separatism and the complications surrounding it.
The Nijjar Scandal Investigation
The inquiry refers to the actions made by Indian and Canadian law enforcement. This was carried out in an attempt to ascertain the real reason behind the death of major Khalistan movement figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Leader of Sikh separatists Nijjar. In June 2023, he was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple located in Surrey, British Columbia.
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made strong claims in the Canadian Parliament that India might have been involved in the killing of Nijjar, the debate surrounding his assassination grew. The two countries got into a diplomatic conflict as a result of this. Following the expulsion of a senior Indian official by Canada, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in retaliation.
Investigating Nijjar’s murder is a difficult undertaking. Authorities from Canada and India were involved. Finding out the details of the murder that occurred on Canadian soil is Canada’s main priority. India, though, has continuously denied any connection. The examination into the Nijjar controversy brings to light the difficulties in managing delicate international issues. Separatist movements and expatriate communities were active in this.
Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar Arrested?
In the past, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was taken into custody. Nijjar’s arrest history is linked to his illegal activities as part of the Sikh separatist movement. At first, he was connected to the Sikh separatist organization Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Furthermore, it was labeled a “terrorist organization” by India. Nijjar was allegedly accused of planning a Punjabi explosion in 2016, according to reports in the Indian media. Terrorists are trained in a small city southeast of Vancouver, Canada, by a Sikh-majority state in India.
But Nijjar refuted these accusations. Nijjar was charged with crimes and labeled a “terrorist” by Indian police in 2020. A reward of about sixteen thousand dollars was offered for information that resulted in his apprehension. Nijjar’s contentious standing among the Sikh diaspora and in India was exacerbated by his past arrests and illegal actions. His ties to the Khalistan movement made him a potential security risk.
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