Murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar Amplifies Tensions between India and Sikh Separatists

The brazen murder of prominent Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, last month outside a temple in British Columbia, Canada, has ignited global tensions between Sikh separatists and the Indian government.

On a mid-June evening in the busy parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Nijjar was shot dead in his truck by two masked gunmen. The unsolved killing continues to reverberate across borders, with hundreds of Sikh separatists taking to the streets in cities like Toronto, London, Melbourne, and San Francisco to protest the Indian government, which they believe is responsible for Nijjar’s death.

The 45-year-old’s murder has brought to light the long-standing demand for a separate homeland for Sikhs, who represent a religious minority comprising approximately 2% of India’s population. The Khalistan movement, at its peak in the 1980s in Punjab, witnessed violent attacks and deaths. Although it lost momentum after military operations targeted the movement, calls for a separate state have intensified among the diaspora community in recent years.

India has consistently opposed the Khalistan movement, with all mainstream political parties denouncing violence and separatism, including those in Punjab.

While Nijjar was a prominent Sikh leader in British Columbia and a vocal supporter of a separate Khalistani state, India categorized him as a terrorist and a leader of a militant separatist group—an accusation staunchly refuted by his supporters.

Canadian investigators have yet to establish a motive for the murder or identify any suspects, but it has been classified as a “targeted incident.”

Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside of Punjab. Protesters gathered in Toronto outside India’s High Consulate building to express their outrage over Nijjar’s death, sparking a smaller counter-protest in support of the Indian government. The clashes between the two groups lasted for several hours, resulting in one arrest.

Some concern had been raised about the nature of the protest, as certain posters featured inflammatory language and labeled Indian diplomats as “killers.” In response, the Indian government summoned the Canadian envoy.

While the Khalistan movement has seen a revival, particularly among the youth, there is a belief that people in Punjab have largely moved on from the idea of a separate Sikh state, according to Gurpreet Singh, a British Columbia-based journalist and radio host who has interviewed Nijjar in the past.

Nijjar’s murder is the third sudden death of a prominent Sikh figure in recent months. Avtar Singh Khanda, said to be the head of the Khalistan Liberation Force, died in Birmingham under suspicious circumstances that some suspect may be related to poisoning. Additionally, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, designated a terrorist by India, was shot dead in Pakistan’s Lahore.

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada spokesperson, Balpreet Singh, believes that Nijjar was a target and claims to have warned Canadian security agencies of a likely assassination plot against him. Singh states that Nijjar planned a non-binding referendum in September relating to an independent Sikh state, following a similar vote held last year in Brampton, Ontario. The turnout of an estimated 100,000 people reportedly angered the Indian government, challenging their assertion that the Khalistan movement is a fringe or extremist cause.

Following the referendum, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern about an increase in hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada, although it did not specifically reference any incidents or mention the referendum.

Differing narratives exist regarding the Khalistan movement and deaths of its advocates, such as Nijjar. Some Indian commentators attribute internal rivalries among Sikh organizations in Canada as the motive behind Nijjar’s murder. They have also accused Khalistan supporters of vandalizing Hindu temples with anti-Indian graffiti and attacking the offices of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa during a demonstration in March.

While Sikhs and Canadian national security experts have accused the Indian government of spreading misinformation to malign the Sikh community and Khalistan supporters, India denies such claims. Canada’s national security adviser to the prime minister has previously accused India of being a significant source of foreign interference in Canada.

Although both countries maintain long-standing diplomatic and trade ties and are in advanced talks for a free-trade agreement, it remains uncertain whether recent diplomatic tensions will impact the deal.

Balpreet Singh argues that Canada should adopt a stronger stance against interference by India, particularly concerning activities targeting the Sikh community. However, he acknowledges that Canada has provided a platform for open discussion among many Khalistan supporters and the Sikh community, who remain defiant in the face of Nijjar’s murder.