![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/incendiary-remark-on-sikhs-murder-stokes-debate-in-canada-diaspora/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/130353017_gettyimages-1515202708.jpg&description=Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A pro-Khalistan demonstration in Toronto after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar faced a counter-protest A row between Canada and India over the murder of a Sikh separatist has stoked talk of political friction among some Sikhs and Hindus in the diaspora, though others say it's overblown. After Mr Trudeau's public accusation on Monday that India may have been behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, a clip surfaced on social media showing the head of a US-based Sikh separatist group calling for Hindu Canadians to return to India. "Indo-Canadian Hindus, you have repudiated your allegiance to Canada and the Canadian constitution," said Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, head of Sikhs for Justice, in a video that was reportedly filmed on 12 September. "Your destination is India. Leave Canada. Go to India," he said. The video of Mr Pannun, who is a dual Canadian-US citizen and was a friend of Mr Nijjar, was widely shared online and in Indian media. It caught the attention of Chandra Arya, a Liberal member of Canada's parliament. "I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack," Mr Arya, a Hindu, wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Mr Arya - who declined to comment to the BBC - added that he believed the comments were made to "divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada". The exchange seemed to hint at a sense of division within the Indian diaspora, which Canada's bombshell allegation has done little to alleviate. India denies orchestrating Mr Nijjar's murder. Tensions were up in the wake of Mr Nijjar's murder. His supporters staged protests across Canada in the wake of his killing, accusing India of being behind his death. Those demonstrations faced counter-protests from supporters of the Indian government. Posters for the event, which labelled Indian diplomats as "killers", were denounced by New Delhi officials. India has also spoken out about vandalism targeting Hi){kind=link}
A row between Canada and India over the murder of a Sikh separatist has stoked talk of political friction among some Sikhs and Hindus in the diaspora, though others say it’s overblown.
After Mr Trudeau’s public accusation on Monday that India may have been behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, a clip surfaced on social media showing the head of a US-based Sikh separatist group calling for Hindu Canadians to return to India.
“Indo-Canadian Hindus, you have repudiated your allegiance to Canada and the Canadian constitution,” said Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, head of Sikhs for Justice, in a video that was reportedly filmed on 12 September.
“Your destination is India. Leave Canada. Go to India,” he said.
The video of Mr Pannun, a dual Canadian-US citizen who was a friend of Mr Nijjar, was widely shared online and in Indian media.