The Canadian House of Commons observed a minute’s silence in memory of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the first anniversary of his murder on Tuesday, adding a fresh strain to bilateral relations.

India reciprocated by calling the diaspora in Canada to gather at the Air India Memorial in Vancouver to express solidarity against terrorism on June 23 — the 39th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing.

The decision of the Canadian Lower House to observe a minute’s silence was made in consultation with all parties. Calling the House to observe the minute’s silence, Speaker Greg Fergus said: “Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence in memory of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, one year ago today.”

This a provocative move by the Canadian polity as the decision can no longer be pinned solely on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau whose government is dependent on the New Democratic Party, led by Khalistan supporter Jagmeet Singh. The Canadian House of Commons’ honour to Nijjar came a couple of days after Trudeau met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Italy last week at the G7, their first meeting after the Canadian leader alleged an Indian government hand in the killing.

And a day before, on Sunday — in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC News — Trudeau had said there is “alignment on a number of big issues that we need to work on as democracies” and as a global community.

Trudeau added: “But now that he (Modi) is through his election, I think there is an opportunity for us to engage, including on some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe...”

While there was no immediate response from New Delhi to the honouring of Nijjar by the Canadian House of Commons, the Indian consulate general in Vancouver appeared to be responding when it posted on X plans to observe the Kanishka bombing.

“India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. 23 June 2024 marks the 39th Anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 (Kanishka), in which 329 innocent victims, including 86 children, lost their lives in one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation. A Memorial Service is scheduled at 1830 hrs on June 23, 2024 at the Air India Memorial at Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area. @cgivancouver encourages members of the Indian Diaspora to join the event in a show of solidarity against terrorism.”

Nijjar, who headed the Khalistan Terror Force, was gunned down near a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023, and months later Trudeau had announced in the House of Commons that there was an Indian government hand in his killing. India had rejected this charge.

Nijjar was a wanted man in India after Punjab police had sought his extradition. In July 2020, based on the findings of probe agencies, the Union home ministry had designated Nijjar as an individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).