Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland Faces Tough Questions on Honoring Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Vancouver, Canada – Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, was questioned about why Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was on the no-fly list and had his bank accounts frozen before his death, is now being honored with a tribute in the Canadian Parliament.

In a viral video, a journalist asked Freeland about the paradox of honoring Nijjar despite past government actions against him. Freeland responded by emphasizing the recent solemn anniversary of Nijjar’s murder and condemning the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil. She praised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stance post-assassination, calling it necessary but challenging.

Freeland said, “I do want to start by saying that this week was a very sad and solemn anniversary of the murder. I was in the House of Commons, and I guess all three of us were. It was important to have a moment of silence to recognize this was the murder of a Canadian in Canada on Canadian soil, and that is entirely unacceptable. Second of all, I do want to say I was very proud of the prime minister and of the strong position he took after the murder.”

She further stated, “It was the right thing to do, but it wasn’t an easy thing to do.”

Freeland reiterated Trudeau’s commitment to equality under Canadian law and protection against threats, regardless of consequences. However, she evaded direct answers on why Nijjar was on the no-fly list, why his accounts were frozen, or the rationale behind Parliament’s tribute to him.

“The government of Canada will enforce our laws and protect all Canadians regardless of who is threatening them and what the consequences might be. Doing that was a big thing for the prime minister, and I think all of us should feel safer and more secure knowing that he will stand for Canadians and against the killers of Canadians no matter what,” she said.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, born in the Jalandhar district of India’s Punjab, migrated to Canada in 1997 and worked as a plumber in British Columbia. Designated as a Khalistani terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), Nijjar was fatally shot outside a Surrey Gurudwara on June 18 last year by unidentified assailants.