LONDON: Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a prominent pro-Khalistan secessionist group, has alleged that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s intelligence agency, acting under the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, orchestrated the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
The SFJ’s General Counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, condemned the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was a leader of SFJ in Canada and a prominent Sikh campaigner.
The 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar was discovered with gunshot wounds in his pickup truck in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on Sunday night, according to federal police reports. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun squarely blamed RAW, Prime Minister Modi, and his close associates Amit Shah and Ajit Doval for the assassination, holding them “responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the incharge of Khalistan Referendum in Canada.” Pannun vowed to avenge Nijjar’s death by dismantling the Indian system.
While SFJ has been advocating for the liberation of Punjab through peaceful means, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused India of resorting to violence and bullets to suppress the Khalistan Referendum, which aims to seek independence and liberate Punjab. Pannun warned that Modi, Shah, and Doval should be prepared to face justice under international law for their alleged involvement in ordering the killing of pro-Khalistan Sikhs.
Threats to Prove Khalistan Movement Leaders
Canadian police stated that Hardeep Singh Nijjar served as the president of the Gurdwara and was an advocate for the creation of Khalistan. He was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism offenses and conspiracy to commit murder, charges which he denied. Indian authorities have denied any involvement in the assassination and claim that Nijjar was associated with the “Khalistan Tiger Force.”
Timothy Pierotti of the police’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team stated, “We understand there is a lot of speculation regarding the motive of this homicide, but we are dedicated to learning the facts and letting the evidence lead our investigation.” The World Sikh Organisation of Canada revealed that Nijjar had been previously warned by Canada’s spy agency about threats against him and described his killing as a “targeted shooting.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s name had been included in the wanted list shared by former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter’s visit to India in 2018. Nijjar played a significant role in organizing the Khalistan referendum in Brampton, Ontario, last year in September, during which more than 100,000 Sikhs gathered to vote in support of Khalistan. The massive gathering attracted international attention as long queues of Sikhs lined up along the highway from the voting center.
