The Parliament of Canada observed a moment of silence to mark the first anniversary of death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This tribute, typically reserved for individuals of significant national importance, is a mark of respect and remembrance for their contributions. The Justin Trudeau government honoured Nijjar despite knowing very well that he was linked to terrorism and considered a threat to Canada.
What more, the Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland dodged a question on why, despite knowing Nijjar’s terror antecedents, the Canadian government paid tribute to him.
This has been revealed in a recent investigative report by The Globe and Mail. The report shows Hardeep Nijjar was a long-standing concern for the Canadian government. He was put on the no-fly list and his bank accounts were even frozen. He was also quizzed about his role in an illegal weapons training programme for Sikhs in Canada.
The details mentioned in The Globe and Mail report reveal something very important — the Canadian government was well aware of the concerns about Nijjar but still went ahead to commemorate his anniversary of death.
CONCERNS ABOUT HARDEEP NIJJAR AND SIKH EXTREMISM
“We will have to take up arms. We will have to dance to the edge of swords. Those who advocate peaceful methods need to leave them behind. What justice will we get this way?”
This was part of Nijjar’s speech in 2021, a video of which was obtained by The Globe and Mail. In the video, Canada-based Nijjar is seen openly advocating violence.
This video alone also reveals how India’s concern about rising Sikh extremism on Canadian soil stands true.
These concerns started a year ago in 2023, when Nijjar was killed by two gunmen outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that the Indian government was responsible for his death. The allegations fuelled a diplomatic stand-off between India and Canada.
The Indian government blamed Nijjar for the 2007 cinema hall bombing in Punjab and even the attempted murder of a Shiv Sena leader in 2021.
The various concerns and allegations of the Indian government have some standing that have been reaffirmed by The Globe and Mail report.
NIJJAR’S TIES TO BABBAR KHALSA, KANISHKA BOMBING
Nijjar shared stories with friends of how he, as a boy, served food to of the Khalistani separatists, reveals The Globe and Mail report.
He was inspired to join the Khalistani movement by Anokh Singh Babbar, a co-founder of Babbar Khalsa, the terrorist group behind the Air India Kanishka bombing. That is the worst terror attack in Canada’s history.
Babbar, who was charged with killing 100 people with bombs fitted in radios, was killed in a police encounter in 1987.
NIJJAR AND THE KHALISTAN COMMANDO FORCE
Nijjar was also a close friend of Gurdeep Singh Deepa, who was an important member of the Khalistan Commando Force, notorious for its brutal attacks, according to the report. In 1991, its militants killed over 125 Hindus, even children.
Nijjar had to flee from India after Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh was assassinated in 1995.
He alleged that he was tortured after his arrest, and had to flee abroad.
In 2016, the Indian police arrested a Canadian plumber, Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, on one of his visits to Punjab. They suspected he would carry out “terrorist activities” in Punjab.
Dhaliwal told the police he was sent by Nijjar to attack the “leader of the sects”. They conducted weapons and GPS training on the Lower Mainland in Canada.
NIJJAR ON NO-FLY LIST AND BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN
Nijjar was questioned by the Canadian police in 2016 about his involvement in weapons training. His business and personal bank accounts were frozen. Considered a threat, he was also put on Canada’s no-fly list.
His bank sent him a letter informing him how he was a threat to national security, and he was being called in to pay off all his debts, according to The Globe and Mail report.
The report also reveals how Nijjar took charge of Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey. He hung portraits of those who died for the Khalistani cause. Among these was a portrait of Talwinder Singh Parmar, who was responsible for the Air India Kanishka bombing.
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE TRIBUTE TO NIJJAR
With this information in public domain, the Canadian government is being questioned about its decision to pay tribute to Nijjar.
Candian Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, was asked at a media interaction why Nijjar was given a tribute on the anniversary of his death when the Canadian government had put him on the no-fly list and his bank accounts were frozen?
She was seen dodging the question.
Questions did not stop here. They are being raised from within the government as well.
A Canadian MP has also criticised the tribute to Nijjar. An MP from Trudeau’s Liberal Party, Chandra Arya, spoke up against the commemoration.
“When Parliament decides to observe a minute of silence, it is very exclusive and limited to a few great Canadians who have served Canadians immensely for most of their lives,” said Arya, reported The Globe and Mail.
“Nijjar is not one of those people. That the ‘credible allegations’ that he was killed by a foreign government were considered good enough to elevate him to the ranks of the most respected Canadians is false,” the MP added.
Chandra Arya also referred to The Globe and Mail investigative report to question the Trudeau government. The investigative report highlights that the Canadian government paid tribute to Nijjar in Parliament despite being fully aware of his terror links on Canadian soil. It is also obvious that the Canadian government has no answer as to why it did so, as is evident from the Deputy PM’s dodging the question.