Canadian Parliament observes moment of silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, pro-Khalistani terrorist wanted by NIA

Canada has alleged India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. India has refuted the allegations.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: June 19, 2024 04:53 PM IST

3 min read

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Canada's House of Commons observes a moment of silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Screenshot/parlvu.parl.gc.ca/)

The Canadian Parliament Tuesday held a moment of silence for pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead on June 18, 2023 by two unidentified men in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey.

Towards the end of the proceedings in the House of Commons on June 18, Speaker Greg Fergus stood up to announce, “Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is agreement to observe a moment of silence commemorating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, one year ago today.”

Following this, members of the House stood up and observed a moment of silence. The Indian Express corroborated the video with official recordings of the proceedings at the House of Commons, available on the ParlVu website.

Nijjar was the head of a separatist organisation, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). He was named among the ‘Most Wanted’ by the National Investigation Agency, which had declared a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for Nijjar.

Canada has alleged India’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Speaking in the House of Commons on September 18, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “Over the past number of weeks Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.” He had added that “any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

India has refuted the allegations. At the time, the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a statement saying, “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister… Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected.”

Four Indian nationals have been arrested in connection with Nijjar’s assassination. India has said that it is awaiting details of the case.

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