STATEMENT: Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

On September 18th, the Prime Minister informed the House of Commons and all Canadians about credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian Citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canada is a rule-of-law country, and the protection of our citizens and the defence of our sovereignty are fundamental. Our top priorities are the continued safety of all Canadians and that the perpetrators of this murder are held to account.

These concerns were shared personally and directly by Prime Minister Trudeau to Prime Minister Modi of India in no uncertain terms, and we expect full cooperation from India.

I understand this is deeply upsetting for many in our community, particularly South Asians and families who come from India, regardless of religion. This is a time to let the legal process continue as it must.

Let us all remember that our Canadian society is diverse and inclusive and we must hold those values close to our hearts day in and day out. Let us all remain calm, unified, and empathetic.

Lastly, the recent circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians. There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear. Let’s ensure we are there for each other through this difficult time.