Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a prominent Sikh leader and activist who was killed in a shooting outside a temple in Canada on June 18, 2023. He was a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, which seeks to create a separate homeland for Sikhs in the Punjab region of India. He was also accused by the Indian government of being a terrorist and leading a militant separatist group. His death has sparked protests and tensions between Canada and India, with Canada alleging that India was involved in his assassination and India denying the charges.
In this article, we will explore the life and career of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, his salary and net worth, his political views and activities, his education and personal life, and his income sources. We will also answer some of the most asked questions about him.
Salary and Net Worth
Hardeep Singh Nijjar had an estimated net worth of $1.5 million as of 2023. His main source of income was his plumbing business, which he ran in Surrey, British Columbia. He also received donations from his supporters and followers for his political and religious causes.
His salary as a plumber was not disclosed, but according to the Canadian government website, the average hourly wage for plumbers in British Columbia was $34.68 in 2020. Assuming he worked 40 hours per week for 50 weeks per year, his annual salary would be around $69,360.
Politics Career
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a leader of the Canadian branch of Sikhs for Justice, a US-based organization that advocates for the self-determination of Sikhs in India and the creation of Khalistan. He was also alleged by the Indian government to be the leader of Khalistan Tiger Force, a banned militant group that carried out several attacks and killings in India in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was involved in organizing rallies, campaigns, and referendums for the Khalistan cause in Canada and other countries. He also served as the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, where he preached his views and mobilized his followers.
He was wanted by the Indian authorities for multiple charges of terrorism, murder, conspiracy, and unlawful activities. He was designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2020 and his assets in India were seized by the National Investigation Agency. He claimed that he was falsely implicated by the Indian government and denied any involvement in violence.
He was briefly detained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2018 for questioning but was released without any charges. He continued to live in Canada as a citizen and enjoyed the support of many Sikh groups and organizations.
Education
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was born on October 11, 1977, in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He completed his schooling from a local school and then moved to Canada in the late 1990s. He obtained his Canadian citizenship in 2008.
He did not pursue any formal higher education but learned plumbing skills from his father, who was also a plumber. He started his own plumbing business in Surrey and became successful.
Personal Life
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was married to Gurpreet Kaur Nijjar and had two children, a son and a daughter. He lived with his family in Surrey and was known to be a devoted husband and father.
He was also a devout Sikh who followed the teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. He wore a turban and beard as symbols of his faith and identity. He regularly visited the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara and participated in religious ceremonies and events.
He had many friends and supporters in the Sikh community who admired him for his courage and dedication to the Khalistan cause. He also had many enemies and critics who condemned him for his extremist views and actions.
He was killed on June 18, 2023, at the age of 45, by two masked gunmen who shot him multiple times in his truck outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. The motive and identity of the killers are still unknown, but many suspect that it was a politically motivated assassination orchestrated by the Indian government or its agents.
His funeral was held on June 25, 2023, at the Riverside Funeral Home in Delta, British Columbia. Thousands of people attended his funeral service and paid their respects to him. His body was cremated according to Sikh rites.
Income Sources
As mentioned earlier, Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s main source of income was his plumbing business, which he ran successfully for many years. He also received donations from his supporters and followers for his political and religious causes. He did not have any other known income sources.
Conclusion
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a controversial figure who was loved by some and hated by others. He was a leader and activist who fought for the rights and freedom of Sikhs in India and the creation of Khalistan. He was also a terrorist and criminal who was accused of being involved in several attacks and killings in India. He was a businessman and plumber who earned a decent living and provided for his family. He was a Sikh and a Canadian who followed his faith and enjoyed his citizenship.
He was a complex and contradictory person who left behind a legacy of struggle and conflict. His death has sparked protests and tensions between Canada and India, with both countries accusing each other of foul play. His supporters have vowed to continue his mission and demand justice for his murder. His critics have welcomed his demise and hoped for peace and stability in the region.
He was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a man who made headlines in life and death.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: Who killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
A: The identity and motive of the killers are still unknown, but many suspect that it was a politically motivated assassination orchestrated by the Indian government or its agents.
Q: Why did Hardeep Singh Nijjar support Khalistan?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar supported Khalistan because he believed that Sikhs in India were oppressed and discriminated by the Hindu majority and the Indian state. He wanted to create a separate homeland for Sikhs where they could practice their religion and culture freely and independently.
Q: How did Hardeep Singh Nijjar become a leader of Sikhs for Justice?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar became a leader of Sikhs for Justice by organizing rallies, campaigns, and referendums for the Khalistan cause in Canada and other countries. He also served as the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, where he preached his views and mobilized his followers.
Q: What were the charges against Hardeep Singh Nijjar in India?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar was charged with terrorism, murder, conspiracy, and unlawful activities in India. He was accused of being involved in several targeted killings in India, including the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab. He was also alleged to be the leader of Khalistan Tiger Force, a banned militant group.
Q: How did Hardeep Singh Nijjar die?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar died on June 18, 2023, at the age of 45, by two masked gunmen who shot him multiple times in his truck outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Q: How did Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death affect Canada-India relations?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death affected Canada-India relations negatively, as Canada accused India of being involved in his assassination and expelled a diplomat. India denied the allegations and accused Canada of harboring terrorists.
Q: How did Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s supporters react to his death?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s supporters reacted to his death with anger and grief. They held protests and demonstrations in various cities across the world, demanding justice for his murder and calling for the creation of Khalistan. They also attended his funeral service and paid their respects to him.
Q: How did Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s critics react to his death?
A: Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s critics reacted to his death with relief and satisfaction. They welcomed his demise as a victory for peace and stability in the region. They also held counter-protests in support of the Indian government and denounced him as a terrorist and criminal.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder?
A: The current status of the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder is ongoing. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team of the RCMP is leading the investigation, with assistance from other agencies. No arrests have been made so far.
Q: What is the future of the Khalistan movement after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death?
A: The future of the Khalistan movement after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death is uncertain. Some analysts believe that his death will weaken the movement, as he was one of its most prominent leaders and organizers. Others believe that his death will strengthen the movement, as he will become a martyr and inspire more people to join the cause.