A Canadian Member of Parliament from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has criticised the decision to mark the first anniversary of the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar with a moment of silence in the House of Commons. Chandra Arya, an MP from Napean, Canada, expressed his disapproval, stating that the tribute was inappropriate.
Chandra Arya emphasised that the Parliament's practice of observing a minute of silence is reserved for individuals who have significantly served Canadians throughout their lives. According to Arya, Nijjar did not fit this criterion, as reported by The Globe and Mail.
Despite this, MPs from all parties participated in the tribute to Nijjar, who was murdered outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
The situation has been complicated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion of "credible allegations" linking Nijjar's murder to the Indian government. These allegations have caused diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. India has strongly denied any involvement, calling the allegations "absurd and motivated."
Chandra Arya reiterated his condemnation of the tribute, highlighting that the recognition should be limited to Canadians who have made substantial contributions to the country.
He pointed to an investigation by The Globe and Mail that raised concerns about Nijjar's ties to extremism, his entry into Canada with a false passport, and his involvement in the Khalistan separatist movement. Arya stressed that the Parliament's minute of silence should be reserved for those who have genuinely served the nation.
The controversy surrounding Nijjar's tribute is further intensified by ongoing tensions related to the 1985 Air India bombing, which resulted in the deaths of 329 people.
Canadian investigations have attributed the attack to Sikh extremists in Canada. Arya expressed concerns about conspiracy theories promoted by some Khalistan supporters, which claim that the Indian government was involved in the bombing. These theories have caused distress to the families of the victims.
Deepak Khandelwal, who lost two sisters in the Air India bombing, criticised the Trudeau government's handling of the situation. He stated that it "emboldens" such behaviour and emphasised the need to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Khandelwal's sentiments were echoed by Mahesh Sharma, a professor at Concordia's business school, who lost his wife and daughters in the attack. Sharma dismissed the conspiracy theories as "totally absurd."
Despite the controversy, the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) defended the minute of silence for Nijjar. NDP House Leader Peter Julian described Nijjar's death as a terrifying incident that has caused fear and unease among many Canadians.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland responded to questions about protests at Air India memorials by reiterating the government's commitment to protecting Canadians' rights. She emphasised that it is unacceptable to kill Canadians on Canadian soil.
In conclusion, the decision to honour Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the Canadian Parliament has sparked significant controversy, drawing criticism from within Prime Minister Trudeau's own party.
The incident has also brought renewed attention to historical and ongoing tensions between Canada and India, highlighting the complexities of addressing issues related to terrorism and extremism.
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