Surrey gurdwara members thank U.S. officials for pressing charges in murder plot

Members of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara are thanking U.S. officials for charging an Indian national in connection with a plot to murder a Khalistani separatist leader who has ties to the city.

Former Guru Nanak president Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot to death in his car outside of the gurdwara in June, was close to the would-be target of a foiled assassination attempt of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the U.S.

Nijjar’s killing spurred protests across Canada after it was alleged that the Indian government played a role in his murder.

Interpreting for gurdwara secretary Gurmeet Singh Toor, who says he faces death threats of his own, Jay Singh with Sikhs for Justice says Toor praises the American and Canadian governments for their strong actions in the wake of the charges.

“Well Mr. Pannun was in touch with, and obviously Mr. Pannun is leading Sikhs for Justice and Mr. Nijjar was the head of the Canadian chapter, so they were good friends, they were colleagues, in the movement to liberate Punjab,” he said. “From day one the gurdwara released a statement that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Shaheed Nijjar. This is sort of just confirmation of that. It’s providing relief.”

“Mr. Toor also hopes and expects that these governments will provide further security and take further actions to assist individuals who currently facing threats to their life.”

Surrey-Centre MP Randeep Sarai tells OMNI News that activists, no matter what their beliefs are, should not have to fear a deadly backlash.

“There’s a very alarming thing that another democracy would take an attempt to assassinate the citizens of two different democracies, particularly those that are allies of theirs — Canada and the United States.”