In a move that raised eyebrows across diplomatic and activist circles, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended a last-minute invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Alberta — despite ongoing tensions over the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.
India accepted the invitation, which came just days before the summit is scheduled to begin on June 15. The two countries expelled each other’s top diplomats last year following accusations that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s assassination on Canadian soil.
Sikh Organization Outraged by Modi’s Invitation
The World Sikh Organization of Canada slammed the decision as a betrayal, especially since the summit falls on the anniversary of Nijjar’s killing.
“This is unacceptable and shocking. It’s a complete reversal of the principled stand Prime Minister Trudeau had taken,” said Balpreet Singh, the group’s legal counsel.
‘Remembered Only When Needed’
Analysts noted the timing with irony — Modi, who had been diplomatically sidelined, was suddenly remembered just in time to fill a G7 guest chair, owing to India’s economic weight and strategic importance.
Carney acknowledged the tension but emphasized India’s relevance:
“India is the fifth-largest economy and central to global supply chains.”
He added that there had been “some progress” in law enforcement dialogue between the two nations.
No Comment on Modi’s Alleged Role
When asked whether he believed Modi was involved in Nijjar’s murder, Carney declined to comment, citing an ongoing legal investigation. Four Indian nationals living in Canada have been charged.
The U.S. has also accused Indian officials of orchestrating a failed assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in New York last year.
