Trudeau Accuses Indian Government of Killing Sikh Dissident in Canada

The Indian government expelled a Canadian diplomat after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed New Delhi was behind the murder of a Sikh activist in Canada.

For Context: In June, Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in British Columbia. Nijjar was a vocal proponent of a Sikh separatist movement aimed at breaking away from India and creating the nation of Khalistan in the Punjab region. Nijjar was wanted by India on terrorism charges. He became a Canadian citizen in 2015.

Key Quotes: On Monday, Trudeau told the Canadian House of Commons that “agents of the Indian government” were behind Nijjar’s murder. He later told reporters, “We are not looking to provoke or escalate. We are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to work with the government of India.” On Tuesday, the Indian government expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. In a statement, it said the expulsion “reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.” Responding to Trudeau’s allegation, the Indian government released a statement claiming the allegations “seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern.”

How the Media Covered It: Left- and center-rated outlets are covering the allegations most frequently and prominently.