Indian Prime Minister Narendra has confirmed his attendance at the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, after accepting Mark Carney, reigniting controversy amid ongoing tensions between Canada and India.
Modi made the announcement on Friday, saying, “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit.”
The summit, scheduled for June 15–17, will mark Modi’s return to Canada during a time of strained bilateral relations. In 2023, then-Prime Minister You told Parliament there were “credible allegations” that Indian government agents were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.
The invitation to Modi has drawn strong criticism from the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), In
“This is a betrayal of Canadian values and our community,” said Balpreet Singh, WSO’s legal counsel. “To welcome Mr. Modi on the anniversary of the Golden Temple attack and the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar is deeply painful.”
Singh also expressed frustration at the lack of response from the Prime Minister’s Office after the group’s letter, adding, “It boggles the mind. How can a country accused of multiple murders and extortion plots in Canada receive a red-carpet welcome?”
In a readout of their recent phone call, Carney’s office confirmed that he and Modi discussed cooperation on law enforcement and addressing security concerns.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply in 2023 and 2024, resulting in the mutual expulsion of six diplomats and public allegations by the RCMP linking Indian agents to criminal acts in Canada, including coercion and murder-for-hire schemes.
India has consistently denied the allegations, accusing Canada of harbouring extremists. In May 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested in connection with Nijjar’s murder, and U.S. authorities have separately charged an Indian government employee in a foiled plot to kill another Sikh leader in New York.
While India is not a G7 member, it has been invited as a guest nation to recent summits, alongside other non-member leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyand Mexican President.
Despite controversy, Canada’s government has stood by its invitation, maintaining that international engagement with India remains vital amid shared global priorities, including trade, security, and climate action.