Carney is facing protests and criticism from Sikh activists for his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G-7.
It will be Modi’s first visit to Canada since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly described “credible allegations” that India’s government was linked to the murder of a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, near Vancouver in June 2023.
A Sikh group protested outside Calgary city hall on Monday. Photographer: Derek Decloet/Bloomberg
Trudeau’s allegations created a diplomatic firestorm and led to the countries expelling each other’s diplomatic officials. India accused Trudeau of hostility to India and of harboring violent extremists. On Friday, Bloomberg reported that the two governments are set to establish a new structure to share information about cross-border crimes, a step towards rebuilding ties.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for advocacy group Sikhs For Justice and the alleged target of a murder plot in New York which was linked by prosecutors to India, said in an interview: “If Prime Minister Carney fails to publicly question Narendra Modi, we will initiate private prosecution against the Indian Prime Minister.”
Modi’s meetings in Kananaskis are set for Tuesday — including a conversation with Carney.
