By Saira Uttamchandani
November 30, 2024
Last summer, the news of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder in Surrey, British Columbia, shocked the world. He was shot in his truck outside of the the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara (a Sikh temple), sparking an uproar in Canada’s Sikh community. Nijjar was known for being a prominent activist for the creation of Khalistan, an independent Sikh state. This led the Indian media and government to label him a terrorist, while he gained a large following in the Sikh community.
This situation escalated when Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, asserted in September of 2023 that there were “credible allegations” that the Indian government was connected to Nijjar’s murder.
These accusations have sparked a wave of disputes between Canada and India, culminating in the expulsion of six Indian diplomats from Canada.
The United States has been pulled directly into this affair, with the Department of Justice announcing in November the thwarted murder of Canadian-American Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an associate of Nijjar who was also an advocate for the Sikh separatist movement. U.S. prosecutors are asserting that the accused, Nikhil Gupta, was directed by an official of the Indian government, Vikash Yadav.
As each others’ “closest allies,” the United States has a moral obligation to support Canada in this dispute, despite the US’ growing financial and strategic ties with India. Additionally, the legal and ideological ramifications of not condemning these extrajudicial killings threatens American interests as well.
India is not only a major trading partner for the United States, but also a key ally in the security sphere. It’s proximity to China has also helped counterbalance and deter the latter’s influence and promote democracy in the region, a cause that is incredibly important to the United States.
However, the importance of the Canadian-American alliance cannot be understated. They share the longest border of two countries in the world, trade hundreds of billions of dollars between them, have close military relations, and similar cultures. The partnership strengthens both nations on a global stage in multiple sectors. A lack of condemnation towards India regarding this issue not only sends a signal to Canada that their shared values of due process and democracy and close relationship are less important than placating India, but also sends a global message of acceptance of India’s actions.
The United States and India have a strong partnership that is founded upon the shared ideal of democracy. Extrajudicial killing contradicts the core of democracy, and violates the fundamental right to life that all individuals have, leading the United States to explicitly condemn it. A supposed democratic institute such as the Indian government must protect this right and punish those who violate it, and an ally of the United States should share such a cardinal value.
Not only does the Indian constitution protect the right to life in Article 21, but the Indian government has signed numerous international treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (which the United States has also signed) that affirm that the right to life is protected. Specifically, the ICCPR affirms individuals’ rights to a fair trial and due process, both of which were violated in the case of this extrajudicial killing.
The fact that the government of an American ally is acting in such discordance with our fundamental values is a huge ideological concern. Not standing with Canada in this dispute sends a conflicting global message about what the United States stands for, weakening its position as the leader of the free world and a powerful global player overall. Furthermore, failing to condemn India’s actions sends a message that these extrajudicial killings are acceptable, suggesting to India—and potentially other nations—that there are no foreign relations consequences for such breaches of international law, thereby emboldening them to continue.
This is an incredibly slippery slope of injustice. It is imperative that the United States makes it known that they stand by their foundational values.
