A Canadian Member of Parliament from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's party has strongly criticized the government's decision to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death with a moment of silence in the House of Commons. Chandra Arya, an MP from the Liberal Party representing Nepean, Canada, expressed his disapproval of the tribute, asserting that it was inappropriate to honour Nijjar in such a manner.
Arya emphasized that the Parliament reserves moments of silence for distinguished Canadians who have dedicated most of their lives to serving the country, a category Nijjar did not belong to, according to The Globe and Mail. MPs from various parties participated in the tribute to Nijjar, who was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has claimed that there were "credible allegations" linking Nijjar's murder to the Indian government, a statement that has led to a diplomatic rift between Canada and India. India has firmly denied these allegations, calling them "absurd and motivated."
Arya reiterated his condemnation, highlighting that the observance of a minute of silence in Parliament should be reserved for Canadians who have made significant contributions to the nation. "When Parliament decides to observe a minute of silence, it is very exclusive and limited to a few great Canadians who have served Canadians immensely for most of their lives," Arya stated, as reported by The Globe and Mail. He argued that Nijjar did not meet these criteria and that the "credible allegations" of foreign government involvement in his death did not warrant elevating him to the status of highly respected Canadians.
Arya also pointed to a Globe and Mail investigation which raised concerns about Nijjar's connections to extremism, his entry into Canada on a false passport, and his involvement in the Khalistan separatist movement. He stressed that such associations should disqualify Nijjar from being honored by the Parliament.
The controversy has been further exacerbated by ongoing tensions related to the 1985 Air India bombing, which resulted in the deaths of 329 people. Two Canadian investigations attributed the attack to Sikh extremists in Canada. Arya expressed concern over conspiracy theories propagated by some Khalistan supporters, who allege Indian government involvement in the bombing. These theories have distressed the families of the victims.
Deepak Khandelwal, who lost two sisters in the bombing, criticized the Trudeau government's handling of the situation, saying it "emboldens" such conspiracy theories. "As painful as this is, I'm speaking out because I don't want any other family to have to go through this. We cannot allow these elements to become stronger," Khandelwal told The Globe and Mail.
The Air India bombing remains a sensitive issue, especially with renewed attention due to recent actions by Khalistan supporters. Some have disrupted memorials for the Air India victims while promoting conspiracy theories. Mahesh Sharma, a professor at Concordia's business school who lost his wife and daughters in the attack, called the idea that the Indian government was behind the bombing "totally, totally absurd."
The federal New Democratic Party (NDP) defended the moment of silence for Nijjar. NDP House Leader Peter Julian stated, "A Canadian was killed on Canadian soil, allegedly by a foreign government. It's terrifying, and many Canadians are feeling worried and unsafe as a result."
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland addressed questions regarding the protests at Air India memorials by reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting Canadians' rights. "You do not have the right, in Canada, to kill Canadians," she emphasized.
