Indians in Punjab fear dispute with Canada endangers work, study plans

House of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is pictured at village Bharsingpura, in Jalandhar district of the northern state of Punjab, India, September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

CHANDIGARH, India (Reuters) - Indians in Punjab, worried that plans to work, study or visit families in Canada will be jeopardised by this week's tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats over the murder of a Sikh separatist, are urging both governments to reduce the tension.

Canada's nearly 800,000 Sikhs formed the world's second largest community in 2021, after roughly 20 million in India. They have links to the northern granary state of Punjab, where their religion was founded more than 500 years ago.