Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a prominent Canadian Sikh activist who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state in India's Punjab region. He was assassinated in Canada in 2023, an event that significantly strained relations between India and Canada. News reports allege the involvement of Indian consular officials in his assassination, which India vehemently denies. Nijjar's death and the subsequent allegations have led to a period of heightened diplomatic tension. However, recent developments indicate a potential reset in India-Canada relations, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visiting India to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties. Despite this, the issue of transnational violence and the safety of Sikh activists remain relevant, as evidenced by security threats against Sikh activists in the UK and a guilty plea in the US related to a plot to assassinate another activist.