Members of B.C.\u2019s Sikh community are speaking out following the stunning RCMP allegations that Indian diplomats are linked to violent crimes on Canadian soil<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representatives of the Guru Nanak Sikh temple \u2013 as well as those close to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the president who was shot dead last year \u2013 said they feel vindicated by the developments in the RCMP\u2019s investigation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The force announced Monday it has evidence of India\u2019s alleged involvement in crimes, including homicide and extortion, targeting the Sikh separatist movement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Canadian government has now expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, creating a diplomatic firestorm between the two countries. India responded by announcing it is expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the top two stationed in New Delhi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RCMP\u2019s latest allegations come as no surprise to some members of the Sikh community who have faced numerous threats, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey tried to assassinate and kill me in New York,\u201d he said. \u201cIn Canada, they did a drive-by shooting at my close friend\u2019s house, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RCMP said it has issued warnings to more than a dozen people over the last year, while conducting its investigation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described India\u2019s alleged involvement in the violence as a \u201cdeeply unacceptable violation of Canada\u2019s sovereignty and of international law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, called the allegations \u201cdeeply disturbing\u201d and a \u201cthreat to the Canadian democracy.\u201d He also called for an emergency meeting of the government\u2019s public safety committee<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the B.C. Gurdwaras Council, knew Hardeep Singh Nijjar for more than 15 years prior to his assassination, and has been in regular contact with his family since. He called the vindication the community is feeling \u201cbittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had to lose such a respected and beloved leader in our community, in Hardeep Singh \u2026 to show that India is actually doing all of these clandestine activities in Canada,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four Indian nationals have been charged with his killing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India has denied the allegations that its diplomats collected information on South Asian Canadians, then passed that information on to criminals who took violent action<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the damning allegations, Sikh leaders said they will not be silenced and are not afraid<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Members of B.C.\u2019s Sikh community are speaking out following the stunning RCMP allegations that Indian diplomats are linked to violent crimes on Canadian soil Representatives of the Guru Nanak Sikh temple \u2013 as well as those close to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the president who was shot dead last year \u2013 said they feel vindicated by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":30397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"jnews_post_split":[],"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n