BC and federal politicians of all stripes have put out statements condemning the political murder of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara president and prominent pro-Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who himself had been vocal that the Indian government agents had put out a contract on his life. Several BC NDP MLAs have released a signed statement including Ravi Kahlon, Harry Bains, Rachna Singh, Bruce Ralston, Jinny Sims, Garry Begg, Mike Starchuk, Jagrup Brar and Aman Singh, condemning Nijjar’s murder. Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wrote to the Public Safety Minister’s office, demanding a thorough investigation into India’s alleged hand in the murder, saying Canada needs to be very concerned about India’s interference in Canada. He asked the minister “to do everything within your power to get to the bottom of this murder, and to address the very serious allegations reported by the Toronto Star and The Vancouver Sun, which come just a few weeks after the national security adviser to the prime minister described India as one of the top sources of foreign interference targeting Canadians.”

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – BC and federal politicians of all stripes have put out statements condemning the political murder of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara president and prominent pro-Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who himself had been vocal that the Indian government agents had put out a contract on his life.

Several BC NDP MLAs have released a signed statement including Ravi Kahlon, Harry Bains, Rachna Singh, Bruce Ralston, Jinny Sims, Garry Begg, Mike Starchuk, Jagrup Brar and Aman Singh, condemning Nijjar’s murder.

 “Like everyone in our community, we are deeply shocked by the horrific killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. We mourn with his family and loved ones,” the Statement said.

“This was an abhorrent act of violence, made even more disturbing by its presence at a place of worship where people go to find peace. We must all stand against it as a community.

 “Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating. They have our full support as they work to bring those responsible to justice,” the Statement concluded.

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wrote to the Public Safety Minister’s office, demanding a thorough investigation into India’s alleged hand in the murder, saying Canada needs to be very concerned about India’s interference in Canada.

Earlier Wednesday, Singh said he has written to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino asking him to look into Indian government interference in Canada in light of Nijjar’s murder.

He asked the minister “to do everything within your power to get to the bottom of this murder, and to address the very serious allegations reported by the Toronto Star and The Vancouver Sun, which come just a few weeks after the national security adviser to the prime minister described India as one of the top sources of foreign interference targeting Canadians.”

Other federal politicians also condemned Nijjar’s murder including Liberal and Conservative MPs.

“Saddened and shocked to see what happened at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey this Sunday. While this is an active RCMP investigation, I encourage anyone that knows anything about it to contact the RCMP as they take steps to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” said Liberal MP Randeep Sarai.

“Conservatives condemn this act of violence which took place in public at a Surrey gurdwara where families and children were present. We expect that the RCMP will conduct a full investigation into this matter and take appropriate action,” said Conservative MP Tim Uppal.

There has been much speculation why the popular Khalistan advocate was killed and was it for his high-profile campaign to carve out a separate Sikh nation in India’s Punjab? Or was he targeted because of a conflict closer to home?

Some have speculated that it was his ongoing dispute with Ripudaman Singh Malik over “Bir” or Sikh Holy Book printing machine which Malik had handed over to the Surrey Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Malik himself was gunned down last year in a similar gangland style hit and experts in the community believe that whoever killed Malik is the same forces behind Nijjar’s murder.

“Well no one is going to buy that Nijjer was murdered because of a lawsuit filed by Malik’s son to get a printing machine back. That makes no sense at all! He was murdered by India – that’s clear given all of their radical Sikh killing agenda that is circulating on social media and has been out there for everyone to see,” one community Expert told DESIBUZZCanada.

Nijjar’s New York lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun told Postmedia is also convinced his close friend was gunned down because of his campaign to create a separate Sikh state in India called Khalistan.

On Tuesday, Pannun sent Postmedia a number of threats he has received that were posted on Twitter accounts, including several saying he would be next now that Nijjar is dead.

And Pannun said he would be contacting lawyers in Canada to ensure the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has details of the threats — something police refused to discuss Monday.

Pannun said that, ironically, their Khalistan campaign has been banned from Twitter and other social media, even though the same forums allow users to “issue these threats.”

 “I strongly believe in the peaceful and democratic process,” he said, referencing their plan to hold a referendum on the Khalistan issue in September. “We will continue to counter India’s bullets with the ballot.”

Pannun earlier told Postmedia that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had warned Nijjar of threats against him just days before he was shot to death around 8:30 p.m. outside Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara on 120th Street.