Indian Government Accused of Links to Sikh Leader Assassinations in Canada, U.S.
TORONTO: Members of Canada’s Sikh community have voiced strong opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, citing serious allegations of Indian government involvement in the assassinations of Sikh leaders in Canada and the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney extended the invitation to Modi—despite India not being a G7 member—to attend the summit as a special guest. The gathering, set to begin Sunday, will mark Modi’s first visit to Canada in nearly a decade and poses a diplomatic balancing act for Carney, who is still early in his political career.
The move has sparked backlash from Sikh activists and community members, particularly those who were warned by Canadian authorities that their lives may be at risk due to alleged threats originating from India.
“‘Outrage’ is the word I keep hearing,” said Moninder Singh, a prominent Sikh activist and close associate of the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was assassinated in British Columbia in June 2023—a killing that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly linked to the Indian government.
Canada-India relations have remained strained since Trudeau’s accusations, and the tensions have been further heightened by reports of similar threats against Sikh activists in the United States.
Carney’s invitation to Modi comes amid efforts to strengthen Canada’s global partnerships and diversify trade ties, particularly as the country navigates a trade standoff with the United States.
