Amid rising tensions over targeted killings of Sikhs, several Sikh organisations in Canada have strongly urged their government to deny Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi an invitation to the upcoming G7 summit, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Sunday.
According to CBC News, these calls come in response to India's alleged involvement in the assassination of prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
The G7 meeting, hosted by Canada, includes the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the European Commission. Yet Modi’s potential presence has sparked backlash from Canadian Sikh communities.
The Toronto-based Sikh Federation voiced its opposition, stating that inviting Modi to the summit would be inappropriate. “India should not be welcomed until it cooperates in the criminal investigations within Canada,” the group told CBC News. “Human rights must be prioritised over economic interests.”
The controversy has intensified since Canadian authorities publicly accused India’s intelligence agency, RAW, of orchestrating the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The demand from Sikh groups followed closely on the heels of a diplomatic engagement between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and her Indian counterpart.
CBC News reported that Anand recently met with India’s foreign minister to discuss expanding economic cooperation. However, this meeting has sparked outrage among Sikh groups, who see it as undermining justice and accountability in the Nijjar case.
Reporter: Ahmed Mansoor