Sikh advocates protest Indian Diplomat’s presence in Surrey

Advocates gathered outside the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey Friday evening to protest against an Indian diplomat.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, was invited by the Surrey Board of Trade as the keynote speaker. Verma’s attendance was met with disapproval by Khalistan advocates, a community of people who are for an independent Sikh homeland in northern India.

“We’re here to protest against him and because there’s allegations that you know the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India, our government is involved in that killing,” said Bhupinder Singh Hothi, the general secretary of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Society.

Over 50 people protested outside the hotel, waving yellow Khalistan flags and chanting against Verma and the Indian government.

Verma and the Indian government have faced heavy scrutiny in Canada, after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside of his Gurdwara in Surrey last June. Tensions have been high between Canada and India since Prime Minister Trudeau accused India’s government of being involved in Nijjar’s murder.

“There is a Canadian citizen shot in Canada, and that is what is known. The rest is all black box. So, till the time investigation is completed, we don’t know anything,” said Verma.

The High Commissioner was supposed to discuss the economic relationship between Canada and India, but the event was delayed by protesters. Some protesters were getting physical with police and preventing some guests from attending the board meeting, causing a delay.

“Those trade opportunities and those dialogues and conversations still need to continue. And I know there’s so much happening right now in India, and I completely appreciate and understand that. But the topic and focus tonight is only about economic and trade opportunities,” said Anita Huberman, President of the Surrey Board of Trade.

Some Sikh advocates said the Surrey Board of Trade inviting Verma was an insult to the Sikh community.

“Just like to request the Surrey Board of Trade that in the future they should not announce or invite these kinds of people who are still under investigation,” Hothi said.

Similar protests and conflicts have broken out in B.C.’s Lower Mainland over the past eight months in relation to the investigation of Nijjar’s assassination. Verma requested Trudeau to end the speculation.