Edmonton Sikh community reacts to tensions between Canada & India
Posted September 20, 2023 4:44 pm.
Last Updated September 20, 2023 7:12 pm.
Both Canada and India have issued travel advisories against each other as tensions between the two countries heat up.
It has those in Edmonton’s Sikh community hoping the world will take notice.
“If this report is correct, I think the whole world should speak against this. Because it’s not just one community, it doesn’t matter what country we’re in, we’re all one big family,” said Manjit Nerval, founder of Sikh’s for Humanity.
The travel advisories come as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an investigation into the killing of a Sikh activist in Surrey, B.C. this past June. The Prime Minister alleges the killing was carried out by those with links to the Indian government.
RELATED:
- India expels Canadian diplomat after Canada links Indian agents to Sikh leader death
- India must cooperate, take allegations seriously, Justin Trudeau says
- India asks citizens to be careful if traveling to Canada as rift widens over Sikh leader’s death
- India rejects Trudeau’s allegations in the slaying of a Sikh activist as absurd
Tensions between Sikh’s and India’s government also share an Edmonton connection.
Edmonton’s Mayor Amarjeet Sohi was imprisoned in the late 1980s in India — as an advocate — Sohi was accused by the government of terrorism and spent nearly two years in prison.
Mayor Sohi was unable to comment on-camera Wednesday but has spoken before of his arrest in India where he spent almost two years in jail even though charges were eventually dropped.
“I think speaking the truth is always difficult. it if this is what Mr. Trudeau thinks happened. I think he did the right thing,” said Nerval.
Earlier this week, Ottawa expelled a diplomat from India.
