Inviting Modi to G7 “A Bad Idea”
Alameen
6-25-2025
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B.C. MP Sukh Dhaliwal, “told reporters he met with Carney early Wednesday to express what he says are constituents' frustrations with the decision to include Modi.”
"The RCMP has clearly stated there's credible evidence Indian agents were involved in the assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil," Dhaliwal said of Nijjar. "It's a bad idea" to include Modi, he said.
Despite reservations expressed by Mr. Carney’s own caucus members and widespread calls from the Canadian-Sikh community to rescind the invitation to PM, Modi.
Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has defended inviting India’s PM, Modi to the G7 meeting in Alberta, saying “it makes sense to have the leader of the world's most populous country around the table when there are big challenges to discuss.”
David Baxter, Canadian Press reported that “Representatives of the World Sikh Organization of Canada and the Sikh Federation Canada told a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday they want a public inquiry into India's foreign interference and transnational oppression.”
“They said Modi’s invitation should be withdrawn unless India co-operates with ongoing investigations and promises to stop interfering in Canadian affairs and targeting Sikhs in Canada.”
"This is a Canadian issue, but it doesn't feel as though this is being treated like a Canadian issue," said Balpreet Singh, spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.
"It's being treated as though it's just those brown people. It's just the Sikhs, and if a foreign government's killing them or threatening them or surveilling them, it's OK. We'll invite the prime minister, and we'll have a weekend in the mountains, and we'll chat."
“The groups are also asking the Liberal government to immediately stop any intelligence-sharing with India.”
Anna Mehler Paperny, Reuters reported, “Members of Canada's Sikh community who were warned by police that their lives were at risk and allege the Indian government is responsible for the threat are incensed by Ottawa's invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta.”
Although Indian government and PM, Modi has denied involvement in Nijjar’s murder and has accused Canada of providing safe haven for the Sikh separatists.
It is, however, clear that both PM, Modi and Carney wish to “reset” Canada-India relationship.
"We've made progress with India in a bilateral sense. They are OK with having a legal process between law enforcement entities," Carney said in a French interview with Radio-Canada, referring to some sort of possible co-operation between Canadian police and Indian authorities over Nijjar's murder.
"There is a process in B.C. concerning the killing of a Canadian citizen that is ongoing, and that will continue. India knows that," Carney told Patrice Roy.
India's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a Thursday press briefing that a meeting between Modi and Carney "will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues and explore pathways to set or reset the relationship."
Both countries have agreed to re-establish high commissioners after G7 meeting. “The two countries expelled each other's high commissioners, senior diplomats who are similar to ambassadors, last fall after the RCMP accused the Indian government of playing a role in a network of violence in Canada, including homicides and extortion.”
Canadian Sikh community held anti-Modi protests across the country. “The advocacy group Sikhs for Justice had already held a day of protests Monday when Modi landed at the Calgary airport in the evening then made his way to the summit in the nearby wilderness retreat of Kananaskis.”
NDP critic for Public Safety and National Security Jenny Kwan and NDP critic for Foreign Affairs Heather McPherson expressed deep concern and solidarity with the Sikh community following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s inappropriate invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
“This decision is profoundly troubling and deeply hurtful to the Sikh community in Canada,” said Kwan. “It is unconscionable that the government would roll out the red carpet for Prime Minister Modi, whose regime has been directly implicated in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This form of transnational repression is a direct threat to the diaspora community and Canada's sovereignty. The government must explain how justice and human rights are being upheld through this invitation.
“At a time when India refuses to cooperate with Canadian authorities and denies responsibility for extrajudicial killings, this move undermines efforts to hold foreign powers accountable for interference and violence in our country.”
“Inviting Prime Minister Modi sends the wrong message—not only to the Sikh community but to all Canadians who believe in the rule of law,” said McPherson.
National Post reported, “A prominent community activist says disinviting Liberal MPs from visiting Sikh temples is one of the steps being considered to send a message to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government over its decision to invite India’s prime minister to the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit.”
“Moninder Singh, a spokesman for Sikh Federation Canada and the British Columbia Gurdwaras Council, said the repercussions from Carney’s decision to extend an invitation to Narendra Modi will not disappear once the G7 leaders’ meeting in Alberta ends next week.”
“Everything is on the table going forward,” he told reporters during Thursday’s news conference.
“We won’t back down from this issue once Mr. Modi arrives, and he leaves, this won’t be an issue that just goes away with him. For us, it’s a deep sense of betrayal.”
PM, Carney may have inadvertently poked the hornet’s nest by inviting PM, Modi to the G7 meeting in Alberta.
Only time will tell whether inviting PM, Modi to the G7 meeting in Alberta was a calculated chess move by PM, Carney. One that would benefit all Canadians and the Liberal party. On the other hand, given the number of Sikh MP’s in Mr. Carney’s caucus whose constituents are outraged over this invite. Thus, ultimately prove to be detrimental to his own government and the party.
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