Assassination of Sikh Temple Leader Creates Diplomatic Crisis between Canada and India

The assassination of Hardeeb Singh Najar, the president of a Sikh temple in Vancouver, has sparked a diplomatic crisis between Canada and India. Najar was shot and killed in the temple parking lot, with the identity of the gunmen still unknown. The two competing narratives emerged: in the Sikh community, Najar was revered as a respected leader and advocate for an independent Sikh state in India called Kalistan; whereas the Indian government labeled him as a terrorist, linking him to various attacks. The controversy deepened as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of involvement in Najar's killing, causing outrage and escalating tensions between the two countries.