Incendiary rhetoric on Sikh’s murder stokes debate in Canada

Canada’s feud with India over the murder of a Sikh separatist has sparked tensions among Sikhs and Hindus in diaspora, though some say it’s overblown.

Following the Prime Minister’s Justin Truedu public accusation on Monday that India may have been responsible for Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death, a clip has emerged on social media showing the head of a US-based Sikh separatist group calling for Canadian Hindus to return to India.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, head of Sikhs for Justice, said in a video that was reportedly filmed on 12 September, “You have repudiated your allegiance to Canada and the Canadian constitution.”

“India is your destination. Leave Canada and go to India,” he said.

Online and in Indian media, Mr Pannun’s video, a dual Canadian-US citizen and friend of Mr Nijjar, has been widely shared.

“Many Hindu-Canadians are concerned after this targeted attack,” Mr Arya, a Hindu, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

As a result of the exchange, it became clear that there are divisions within the Indian diaspora, which Canada’s bombshell allegation hasn’t helped resolve. As far as the murder of Mr Nijjar is concerned, India denies involvement.

Thousands of his supporters protested across Canada after his killing, accusing India of being responsible.

Mr Nijjar was a vocal advocate for the creation of a separate homeland for Sikhs – Khalistan