Outcry from Canadian Sikhs over Modi’s G7 Invitation
Canadian Sikhs expressed their anger towards Prime Minister Mark Carney for inviting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta this weekend. This comes after Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, openly criticized Modi’s administration following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader in Vancouver, in June 2023.
Moninder Singh, a Sikh activist and friend of Nijjar, mentioned feelings of frustration among community members, stating that a group of Sikhs will protest Modi’s attendance throughout the G7 summit. Protests kicked off early in Ottawa, with hundreds demonstrating on Parliament Hill. Many held the Kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger, and waved flags representing the Kalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab, India.
Singh emphasized that Modi’s presence poses a danger to Canadian sovereignty. He noted, “We want everyone in Canada to know that this is not just a Sikh issue. It’s a Canadian issue. India employs threats and coercion to control people, including politicians and media.” He added that it seems odd for a foreign leader implicated in violence to be welcomed in Canada.
Balpreet Singh, another community member, highlighted that many Sikhs are under “duty to warn” alerts, suggesting credible threats against their lives from the Indian government. He described the difficulties faced by Sikhs, saying, “They can’t live normally; it’s a constant state of fear.” Moninder Singh remarked that Sikh lives seem undervalued compared to the interests of India, an economically significant nation.
In a related context, Canada’s Global News reported that Jagmeet Singh, a previous leader of the New Democratic Party, was placed under RCMP protection due to surveillance by alleged Indian operatives. This news, surfacing just before Modi’s visit, reignited tensions among Sikhs in Canada.
The Indian media criticized the protests, with the Times of India noting that a banned Kalistani separatist organization released a video accusing Carney of prioritizing business over national interests. They also condemned India’s military actions against Pakistan as a deliberate attack targeting mosques.
Reports from Opindia highlighted instances of Kalistani activists using children in protests against Modi, drawing parallels to the tactics of extremist groups. They stated that such actions misrepresent Sikhs and promote negative stereotypes. Concerns were raised by Sikh leaders in India, who expressed disapproval of using children in political protests and emphasized the community’s teachings, denouncing such behavior.
Harbanth Singh, from a notable Sikh temple, expressed his shock at the videos and reaffirmed support for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, asserting that the negativity directed at Modi does not align with Sikh values.
