Sikhs show support for Trudeau, denounce India after allegations around death of Sikh leader
Dozens of Sikh protestors showed up outside the High Commission of India Monday, trying to increase public awareness about the Canadian government's allegations that India might have been involved in the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.
These protesters support Canada's hard line against the Indian government when it comes to allegations around the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
"We really support Justin Trudeau for taking a strong action and we stand shoulder to shoulder with him," says protest organizer Resham Singh Bolina. "He shouldn't leave any stone unturned to get to the bottom of this act."
Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, BC in June. He was a known Sikh activist that the Indian government considered a terrorist. Trudeau says there are alleged links between the murder and the Indian government.
"The government of Canada and all the western countries have lots of power, lots of clout to force India to come to the table," says Singh Bolina.
India has denied any role in the killing and accused the federal government of giving safe haven to separatists who support a Sikh homeland. The foreign ministry issued this statement last week:
"Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Tensions between Canada and India have deteriorated, halting visas for Canadian citizens, both countries kicking out diplomats and issuing travel advisories.
"We feel that we have the right of freedom of speech and we think we can do it by gathering together and peacefully," says Amitoj Singh.
Sikh protests also took place in Toronto and Vancouver as tensions continue to simmer over an unsolved murder and the explosive allegations from Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING All 41 workers rescued from collapsed tunnel in India after 17-day ordeal
Rescuers in northern India have successfully removed all 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel under the Himalayas, the climax of a 17-day rescue operation to drill through rock and debris.
Seeing a sick person triggers your body to start preparing for illness: study
New research suggests that just being around a sick person is enough to trigger your body to start preparing to fight the illness.
From fog to snow squalls: Weather advisories in place in parts of Canada
Environment Canada issued several weather alerts Tuesday, with warnings ranging from fog to blizzards.
Conservative deputy calls MP 'unhinged' for linking Poilievre and Winnipeg killings
Federal Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman is calling a Metro Vancouver MP 'unhinged' for a social media post that questioned if there was a connection between Pierre Poilievre and a weekend shooting in Manitoba that killed four people.
Life expectancy for Canadians fell in 2022 for third year in a row, says StatCan
Life expectancy for Canadians decreased for the third straight year in 2022, and more people died of COVID-19 than in any other year since the pandemic began, according to a report released Monday.
Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes
A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more civilian hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when the fighting resumes.
Mother of 2 and 4 exchange students identified as victims killed in crash in Huntsville, Ont.
The woman killed in a head-on collision in Huntsville over the weekend that also claimed the lives of four teenagers has been identified.
How Western Canada's sugar shortage is affecting bakeries, chocolatiers
Amid an ongoing strike at Western Canada's largest sugar refinery, bakery owners and chocolatiers are finding it hard to locate the amounts of sugar they need to keep their businesses going as we head into the holiday season.
Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher
Six teenagers go on trial behind closed doors on Monday in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder that shocked the country.