Hardeep Singh Nijjar Case: What Canada and India Said in September 2023

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. He was a Canadian citizen and a prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement, which advocates a separate Sikh homeland.

Canada’s statement

On 18 September 2023, then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons that Canadian security agencies were examining what he called credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and Nijjar’s killing. Trudeau said any involvement by a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil would be an unacceptable violation of sovereignty.

The wording was important: Canada announced an active investigation and an allegation of a potential link. The parliamentary statement was not a judicial finding and did not establish criminal responsibility.

India’s response

India rejected the allegation, calling it absurd and motivated. The Ministry of External Affairs said India was committed to the rule of law and accused Canada of giving space to violent extremist activity directed against India. The dispute led both countries to expel diplomats and produced a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.

How Nijjar was viewed

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist under its domestic law in 2020 and alleged links to the Khalistan Tiger Force. Supporters and associates in Canada described him as a community and religious figure. These sharply different characterisations formed part of the political dispute, but neither label should substitute for evidence about responsibility for his killing.

Editorial note

This archive avoids repeating unverified allegations about Nijjar’s involvement in other crimes as established fact. Readers should distinguish political statements, intelligence allegations and police claims from evidence tested in court.

Sources and further reading:

Canadian House of Commons record, 18 September 2023: https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-219/hansard

India Ministry of External Affairs briefing, 21 September 2023: https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings?dtl/37134/Transcript_of_Weekly_Media_Briefing_by_the_Official_Spokesperson_September_21_2023

Associated Press report, 19 September 2023: https://apnews.com/article/3c5572d9027769ea6adbd047ec6f462a

Editorial note: Originally published on 19 September 2023 and rewritten on 25 September 2026 as an original archived summary. The original publication date has been retained.

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