The shadow of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder investigation is set to loom large over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appearance at the G7 summit in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to Modi, despite Canadian federal police allegations of Indian government involvement in the assassination, has sparked intense debate and criticism.
Carney, when questioned by the media, refused to comment on whether he believed Modi had a role in Nijjar’s murder. He firmly stated that an ongoing and “quite advanced” legal process in Canada made it inappropriate to make such remarks. Four Indian nationals have been charged in connection with the killing, a case that has already severely strained Canada-India relations, leading to mutual diplomatic expulsions.
The G7 summit, scheduled for June 15-17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, is a significant international forum. Carney justified Modi’s invitation by emphasizing India’s global economic and demographic importance, describing it as the “fifth largest economy in the world” and the “most populous country,” and central to global supply chains. He argued that Modi’s presence is crucial for discussions on energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
This controversial invitation also aligns with Carney’s new government’s broader efforts to ease international tensions, including recent efforts to normalize communication with China and resolve trade disputes with the US. However, the World Sikh Organization has vehemently condemned the invite, calling it a “betrayal” of Canadian values and a dangerous precedent.
