Tensions between India and Canada highlight the complexity of Sikh advocacy abroad.

The stunning claim made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week that India might be responsible for the murder of a Sikh.

The surprising claim made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week that India might have been responsible for the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia has complicated discussions about the nature of Sikh activity in the diaspora in North America.

The largest Sikh population outside of India is found in Canada. In Canada, there are about 800,000 Sikhs, or about 2% of the total population. An estimated 500,000 Sikhs reside in the United States. There is disagreement among Sikhs on whether there is a general majority in the diaspora in favor of an independent Sikh state named Khalistan.