Pakistani Sikh protest killing of separatist leader in Canada

Peshawar – Scores of Pakistani Sikhs took to the streets on Monday in a demonstration against the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. They attributed the assassination to Indian intelligence agents and called for sanctions against India.

The protesters marched from Dagri to Gurdwara in Peshawar, brandishing placards and voicing support for the Khalistan Movement, an advocacy group seeking an independent homeland for Sikhs in India’s northern state of Punjab.

Accusing India of being a “terrorist state” that infringes upon the human rights of its minority communities, the demonstrators pointed to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June as evidence of India’s alleged involvement in violence abroad.

Pakistani Sikh protesters appealed to the European Union and the United Nations to condemn India’s actions and impose sanctions on both India and its intelligence agency, RAW. They vowed to persist in their struggle for Khalistan and expressed unwavering resolve in the face of India’s perceived threats.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver known for its significant Sikh population. Nijjar had been a vocal advocate for an independent Khalistan state and was in the process of organizing an unofficial referendum in India for Sikh independence when he was killed.

India had designated Nijjar as a “terrorist” and accused him of involvement in an alleged attack on a Hindu priest in India. Indian authorities had announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responding to the situation, stated that his government was investigating “credible allegations” linking India to Nijjar’s assassination, which he described as “an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” Trudeau disclosed that he had raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in New Delhi the previous week, seeking cooperation in the investigation.

In response, the Indian government dismissed the allegations as “absurd and motivated” and called upon Canada to take action against anti-India groups operating within its borders. The situation continues to draw international attention and underscores the complex dynamics surrounding the Khalistan Movement and the accusations involving foreign intelligence agencies.