US President, Joe Biden, Discusses Sikh Separatist's Murder at G20 With PM Modi

United States President, Joe Biden, united with other western leaders at the G20 summit to express concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the murder of Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This comes after Canada accused New Delhi of being directly involved in the killing.

Several members of the intelligence-sharing community, The Five Eyes, which consists of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, and the United Kingdom, further pressed these claims at the event, according to information revealed by the Financial Times. The concerns arose after Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, urged the world's leaders to intervene directly.

While the White House maintains silence over these reports, it did express deep concern over the allegations. On the other side, India has dismissed these claims, referring to them as "absurd" and stating that Canada has not provided any substantial evidence regarding Nijjar's assassination.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen since 2007, was labeled a "terrorist" by Indian authorities and was actively involved in the Sikh separatism movement from within Canada. Before his murder, Nijjar was organizing an unofficial Sikh diaspora referendum for independence from India.

This diplomatic dispute has placed many Western countries in a tough situation, balancing their long-standing alliances with Canada and their interests in bolstering relationships with India to counteract China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, rejects any notion of discord between the US and Canada over the allegations against India, expressing deep concern over the entire incident. However, with the suspension of the company processing Indian visas in Canada, the diplomatic ties seem strained.

The tension between India and Sikh separatist groups has been a long-standing issue. India has previously voiced its concerns over Sikh independence protests in Canada, putting a strain on an otherwise healthy diplomatic relationship marked by strong defense, trade ties, and shared strategic interests.