Ottawa — A major controversy has erupted across Canada following Prime Minister Carney’s formal invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming G7 Summit. Several Sikh advocacy groups and community organisations have expressed strong opposition, calling the move deeply insensitive and politically troubling.
Leaders from Sikh communities in Canada argue that inviting Modi, whom they accuse of overseeing or enabling state violence and repression against Sikhs and other minorities in India—sends a dangerous message that Canada is ignoring the human rights concerns raised consistently by its citizens.
“This decision is being seen as an insult by many members of the Sikh diaspora,” said one community organizer from Brampton. “By welcoming Modi, Canada is perceived as legitimizing a leader many view as responsible for past and ongoing injustices against Sikhs in India.”
The criticism largely stems from Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and his government’s broader record under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has frequently been accused of stifling dissent, targeting minorities, and restricting press freedom. Sikh groups globally have long protested what they describe as the Indian state’s continued suppression of Sikh political expression and its failure to address historical grievances, including the events of 1984 and ongoing police actions in Punjab.
While the Canadian government has defended the invitation as a diplomatic necessity tied to international cooperation on global issues, critics say it undermines Canada’s stated commitments to human rights and pluralism.
With Canada home to one of the largest Sikh populations outside India, the backlash may have political repercussions. Several MPs of Punjabi descent have been urged to raise the issue in Parliament and demand clarification on the government’s foreign policy priorities.
The G7 Summit, scheduled later this year, may now face demonstrations or peaceful protests from Sikh groups, with calls already circulating on social media platforms.
As the debate intensifies, the spotlight remains on how Canada balances its strategic interests with the expectations and sentiments of its diverse multicultural communities.