Protesters stood outside the Indian consulate in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to remember Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, two years after he was killed. CTV News
On the second anniversary of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, protesters expressed worry about Canada renewing ties with India. Nijjar, a respected B.C. Sikh leader, was shot dead in 2023. Police have linked the murder to agents of the Indian government. This connection has caused fear and anger among many Sikhs in Canada.
Protest at Vancouver’s Indian Consulate
Moninder Singh, spokesperson for Sikh Federation Canada, called the renewal of relations “frustrating.” He criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending the G7 meeting in Alberta, where he met Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. Singh said India remains involved in “foreign interference” and “transnational repression.”
During the G7 meeting, Canada and India agreed to appoint new high commissioners and restore full diplomatic services for their citizens. However, Singh said India has not cooperated since Nijjar’s murder. Issues like extortion, violence, and threats against Canadians, especially Sikh community members, still persist.
A Wake-Up Call for the Sikh Community
Singh said Nijjar’s death was a “wake-up call” that violence has reached Canadian streets. Nijjar had been the president of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Surrey, where he was killed. The Sikh community has grown more united and alert since then. Singh and other activists say Canadian law enforcement warned them of “imminent assassination” threats.
Police Links to Indian Agents
Canada’s RCMP confirmed strong evidence connecting Nijjar’s killing to Indian government agents. Four Indian nationals face first-degree murder charges, and the trial is ongoing. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service also warned in a report that Indian officials and their agents are trying to influence Canadian communities and politics.
Calls for a Public Inquiry
Singh demands a public inquiry focused on India’s activities in Canada. He believes this is necessary to understand how deeply India’s influence runs and how it threatens Canadian sovereignty. “Canada’s sovereignty is being undermined by a country like India,” he said. “They’re coming on Canadian soil and killing Canadian citizens here.”
Voices from the Protest
Protesters waved Khalistan flags, calling for a separate Sikh state in India. Imren Kaur Sahota, who joined the protest, said the issue goes beyond the Sikh community. “It’s important for anybody that believes in the sovereignty of Canada,” she said. Sahota found it “disappointing” that Modi was invited to Canada despite his government’s alleged role in Nijjar’s death. She called it “hurtful” how easily this was overlooked.
