Victoria rally demands Eby cancel India plans
Dozens of Sikh activists gathered Thursday at B.C. legislature steps. They waved Khalistan flags and held signs reading “Do not choose business over blood.” Rally organizer Sikhs For Justice led chants against Premier David Eby’s upcoming trade mission to India.
Spokesperson Jag Sidhu questioned who ordered Nijjar’s killing. Four men face murder charges in the June 2023 temple parking lot shooting. “Killers are in custody, but who’s behind it?” Sidhu asked the crowd.
Eby departs Friday with Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon. The week-long trip hits New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bengaluru. Activists call it tone-deaf amid the unresolved Nijjar case.
Surrey Gurdwara joins community outrage
Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara’s management committee issued a statement Thursday. Nijjar led the temple from 2019 until his assassination outside the West Newton gurdwara. The committee demands Eby suspend travel until “full justice” arrives.
Canada links Indian agents to the killing, the statement notes. Federal government acknowledged credible allegations. The attack struck a sacred Sikh space on Canadian soil, they argue.
The gurdwara calls Eby’s timing “profoundly disturbing.” Sikh activists take to B.C. legislature steps, angered by Eby’s India trip reflects broader community pain. Temple leaders demand accountability before business resumes.
Eby defends economic mission amid backlash
Eby announced the trip Tuesday. He stressed courts handle Nijjar murder charges. Federal diplomats manage India relations. His focus stays on tariff-hit B.C. exports.
Surrey claims nearly 155,000 Sikhs from B.C.’s 290,000 total. The community wields electoral power. Sidhu warned NDP Surrey MLAs face unseating without condemnation.
“You will learn a lesson Eby in the next election,” Sidhu told the Victoria crowd. Four Surrey NDP MLAs stayed silent Thursday amid rising tensions.
Trade vs. justice tension escalates
Eby’s mission seeks new markets post-tariffs. Sikh leaders see disrespect without Nijjar resolution. The federal inquiry continues alongside criminal proceedings. No masterminds face charges yet.
Surrey’s Sikh population grew rapidly. Nijjar’s death galvanized activism. Khalistan support divides the community but unites against perceived slights.
Gurdwara leaders frame the issue morally. They demand Eby prioritize Canadian safety over commerce. Sikh activists take to B.C. legislature steps, angered by Eby’s India trip shows deepening rift between provincial leadership and largest Sikh population west of Toronto.
Sources: B.C. legislature protest coverage and Guru Nanak Gurdwara statement on Premier Eby’s India travel plans.
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