Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, was gunned down outside a cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023
India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has firmly denied any involvement in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in British Columbia in June 2023. This denial follows allegations made by the Canadian government, which has named Verma as a person of interest in the case. Speaking during an interview on CTV’s *Question Period* on Sunday, Verma dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and lacking evidence.
When asked about his role in the killing of Nijjar, Verma said, “Nothing at all. No evidence presented. Politically motivated.” The diplomat was among six Indian officials expelled from Canada last week as tensions between the two countries escalated.
Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, was gunned down outside a cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Four Indian nationals residing in Canada have been charged with his murder and are awaiting trial.
The Canadian government, along with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has alleged that Indian diplomats were involved in a broader campaign targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. According to these claims, Indian officials were passing information about separatist activists to organised crime groups in India, leading to acts of violence, including drive-by shootings, extortions, and even murder.
Verma strongly refuted the claim that Indian authorities were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada, saying, “I, as high commissioner of India, have never done anything of that kind.” He condemned Nijjar’s killing, stating, “Any murder is wrong and bad. I do condemn.”
The diplomatic dispute has drawn comparisons from Canadian officials, with Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly likening India’s actions to those of Russia, citing alleged involvement in homicides and intimidation within Canadian borders. Verma pushed back, challenging these statements and calling for concrete evidence. “Let me see the concrete evidence she’s talking about. As far as I’m concerned, she’s talking politically.”
India has dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and retaliated by expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats. Verma also stated that Canada had not provided any evidence to support the claims and suggested that earlier attempts by the RCMP to share evidence were hindered by visa issues. He explained, “A visa needs to be affixed. For any government delegation to travel to another country, you need an agenda. There was no agenda at all.”
The diplomatic row has not been limited to Canada. The U.S. Justice Department recently announced charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. The individual, Vikash Yadav, is facing murder-for-hire charges as part of a wider conspiracy that U.S. authorities say was intended to target Sikh leaders in both the U.S. and Canada. Responding to this, Verma commented, “An indictment is not a conviction. It will follow its judicial process.”
India has long criticised Canada for what it sees as leniency toward supporters of the Khalistan movement, a separatist cause seeking an independent Sikh state in India. While the movement is banned in India, it has garnered support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
Despite the mounting diplomatic tensions, Verma said he does not foresee a significant impact on non-political relations between the two countries. “I don’t see much impact on non-political bilateral relations,” he said, suggesting that trade and business ties could remain unaffected for the time being.
India and Canada have seen their diplomatic relationship strained over the past year due to the Nijjar killing, with no resolution in sight as both sides continue to stand firm on their positions.