Islamabad, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), has accused the Narendra Modi government of orchestrating the assassination of Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This accusation comes following the recent detention of three Indian operatives by Canadian authorities, which Pannun argues substantiates claims of direct involvement by India’s secret agency, RAW, in the killing.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Pannun, a pro-Khalistan advocate and a personal friend of Nijjar, responded to charges laid by Canadian police against three members of a RAW-sponsored hit team. These charges relate to the murder of Nijjar, who was actively leading a Khalistan Referendum campaign in Canada. The incident took place in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18 last year.
The accused, identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, all in their twenties, face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Pannun highlighted Nijjar’s role as a community leader and his commitment to the Khalistan movement, emphasizing the political motives behind his assassination.
Pannun’s statement also implicated high-ranking Indian diplomats in Canada, accusing them of providing logistical support and intelligence for the operation. He called for their prosecution to address what he describes as a broader pattern of transnational violence orchestrated by the Modi government against pro-Khalistan activists.
The SFJ leader urged Canadian political leaders to support the rights of Canadian Sikhs to advocate for Khalistan peacefully, emphasizing the need for legal accountability to prevent such incidents in the future. He dedicated the upcoming phase of the Khalistan Referendum to Nijjar and others who have died for the cause.
The arrested individuals, currently residing in Edmonton, Alberta, are set to be transported to British Columbia to face the charges laid against them.