Canada, India expel diplomats as Ottawa probes doable Indian hyperlink to Khalistan chief’s homicide

By PTI

TORONTO: Canada and India have expelled a senior diplomat every after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” within the killing of a distinguished Sikh separatist chief in Surrey in June, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one among India’s most-wanted terrorists who carried a money reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot lifeless by two unidentified gunmen outdoors a gurdwara in Surrey within the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.

“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau stated Monday in a speech to the House of Commons.

After Trudeau’s remarks in Parliament, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that she has ordered the expulsion of “a senior Indian diplomat.”

Reacting sharply to the allegations and Joly’s remarks, India on Tuesday rejected Trudeau’s claims, calling them “absurd and motivated”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has additionally requested a Canadian diplomat to depart India inside the subsequent 5 days.

“Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the MEA stated in a press release on Tuesday in New Delhi.

“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” it stated.

“We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law,” the MEA stated.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it stated.

“The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the ministry stated.

The MEA stated Canadian political figures have brazenly expressed sympathy for such parts stays a matter of deep concern.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new,” the MEA stated.

“We reject any attempts to connect the Government of India to such developments,” it stated.

“We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil,” it added.

Hours later, Trudeau stated he was not seeking to “provoke” India or “escalate” tensions, however urged New Delhi to take the killing of a Sikh separatist chief with the “utmost seriousness”.

He stated the Indian authorities must “take this matter with the utmost seriousness.

“We are doing that. We are not looking to provoke or escalate,” he advised reporters.

“We want to work with the government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes.” In his speech in Parliament on Monday, Trudeau advised the lawmakers that any involvement of a overseas authorities in killing a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.

“It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” he stated.

“As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter,” he added.

He additionally stated that he had raised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the problem throughout their assembly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month.

Trudeau urged the Indian authorities to cooperate with Canada to unravel this matter.

During the bilateral assembly with Trudeau on September 10, Prime Minister Modi conveyed India’s robust considerations about persevering with anti-India actions of extremist parts in Canada as they’re selling secessionism, inciting violence in opposition to Indian diplomats and threatening the Indian group there.

The Canadian overseas minister’s workplace recognized the expelled Indian diplomat as Pavan Kumar Rai, the pinnacle of India’s overseas intelligence company in Canada, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.

“My expectations are clear. I expect India to fully collaborate with us and get to the bottom of this,” Joly stated.

Citing a senior authorities supply, CBC News reported that Trudeau has briefed the leaders of a few of Canada’s closest allies concerning the case, together with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.

ALSO READ | India-Canada row: We don’t go about assassinating individuals, says former RAW chief

In Washington, the White House stated it was “deeply concerned” concerning the allegations raised by Trudeau.

“We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated in a press release.

Reacting to the incident, a State Department spokesperson stated, “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by PM Trudeau yesterday. We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice. We urge the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and ensure that those responsible are held to account.”

In London, a UK authorities spokesperson stated that Britain was in “shut contact with our Canadian companions about these critical allegations.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson at 10 Downing Street was requested concerning the influence the problem might have on India-UK relations.

“We are in close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations,” the spokesperson stated.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further during the ongoing investigation by the Canadian authorities.”

 Later, when Sunak’s spokesperson was pressed on the matter, he stated work on the commerce negotiations with India “continue as before”.

A spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated Canberra was “deeply concerned” by the allegations made by Canada.

“We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India,” the spokesperson stated.

“The Indian diaspora are valued and important contributors to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society, where all Australians can peacefully and safely express their views,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

ALSO READ | Canada not seeking to provoke India or escalate tensions, says PM Justin Trudeau

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is main the homicide investigation.

“We’ll hold the perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice,” he stated.

Canadian police haven’t arrested anybody in reference to Nijjar’s killing.

Last month, police launched a press release saying they have been investigating three suspects.

Canada-based Nijjar was designated a ‘terrorist’ by India below the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property within the nation was hooked up by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2020.

Interpol Red Corner Notice was additionally issued in opposition to him in 2016.

The native police of Surrey had additionally put Nijjar below home arrest briefly in 2018 on suspicion of his terror involvement however he was launched later.

Bilateral ties between India and Canada have been tense in latest months. Trade talks have been derailed and Canada simply cancelled commerce talks.

Last week, a senior official stated in New Delhi that negotiations for a free commerce settlement between India and Canada will resume after the decision of political points between the 2 nations.

Meanwhile, the son of Nijjar, Balraj Nijjar, on Monday stated the lack of his father remains to be recent, particularly given the circumstances of his dying.

“It’s been hard, obviously. You generally don’t expect something like this to happen even in terms of age, because he’s only 45,”  Balraj was quoted as saying by Vancouver-based Global News.

It additionally reported that Sikh group members vowed Monday to protest in entrance of the Indian consulates throughout Canada following Trudeau’s assertion.

Canada has a Sikh inhabitants of greater than 770,000 (about 2 per cent of its complete inhabitants).

TORONTO: Canada and India have expelled a senior diplomat every after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” within the killing of a distinguished Sikh separatist chief in Surrey in June, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one among India’s most-wanted terrorists who carried a money reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot lifeless by two unidentified gunmen outdoors a gurdwara in Surrey within the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.

“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau stated Monday in a speech to the House of Commons.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

After Trudeau’s remarks in Parliament, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that she has ordered the expulsion of “a senior Indian diplomat.”

Reacting sharply to the allegations and Joly’s remarks, India on Tuesday rejected Trudeau’s claims, calling them “absurd and motivated”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has additionally requested a Canadian diplomat to depart India inside the subsequent 5 days.

“Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the MEA stated in a press release on Tuesday in New Delhi.

“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” it stated.

“We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law,” the MEA stated.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it stated.

“The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the ministry stated.

The MEA stated Canadian political figures have brazenly expressed sympathy for such parts stays a matter of deep concern.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new,” the MEA stated.

“We reject any attempts to connect the Government of India to such developments,” it stated.

“We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil,” it added.

Hours later, Trudeau stated he was not seeking to “provoke” India or “escalate” tensions, however urged New Delhi to take the killing of a Sikh separatist chief with the “utmost seriousness”.

He stated the Indian authorities must “take this matter with the utmost seriousness.

“We are doing that. We are not looking to provoke or escalate,” he advised reporters.

“We want to work with the government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes.” In his speech in Parliament on Monday, Trudeau advised the lawmakers that any involvement of a overseas authorities in killing a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.

“It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” he stated.

“As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter,” he added.

He additionally stated that he had raised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the problem throughout their assembly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month.

Trudeau urged the Indian authorities to cooperate with Canada to unravel this matter.

During the bilateral assembly with Trudeau on September 10, Prime Minister Modi conveyed India’s robust considerations about persevering with anti-India actions of extremist parts in Canada as they’re selling secessionism, inciting violence in opposition to Indian diplomats and threatening the Indian group there.

The Canadian overseas minister’s workplace recognized the expelled Indian diplomat as Pavan Kumar Rai, the pinnacle of India’s overseas intelligence company in Canada, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.

“My expectations are clear. I expect India to fully collaborate with us and get to the bottom of this,” Joly stated.

Citing a senior authorities supply, CBC News reported that Trudeau has briefed the leaders of a few of Canada’s closest allies concerning the case, together with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.

ALSO READ | India-Canada row: We don’t go about assassinating individuals, says former RAW chief

In Washington, the White House stated it was “deeply concerned” concerning the allegations raised by Trudeau.

“We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated in a press release.

Reacting to the incident, a State Department spokesperson stated, “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by PM Trudeau yesterday. We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice. We urge the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and ensure that those responsible are held to account.”

In London, a UK authorities spokesperson stated that Britain was in “shut contact with our Canadian companions about these critical allegations.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson at 10 Downing Street was requested concerning the influence the problem might have on India-UK relations.

“We are in close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations,” the spokesperson stated.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further during the ongoing investigation by the Canadian authorities.”

 Later, when Sunak’s spokesperson was pressed on the matter, he stated work on the commerce negotiations with India “continue as before”.

A spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated Canberra was “deeply concerned” by the allegations made by Canada.

“We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India,” the spokesperson stated.

“The Indian diaspora are valued and important contributors to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society, where all Australians can peacefully and safely express their views,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

ALSO READ | Canada not seeking to provoke India or escalate tensions, says PM Justin Trudeau

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is main the homicide investigation.

“We’ll hold the perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice,” he stated.

Canadian police haven’t arrested anybody in reference to Nijjar’s killing.

Last month, police launched a press release saying they have been investigating three suspects.

Canada-based Nijjar was designated a ‘terrorist’ by India below the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property within the nation was hooked up by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2020.

Interpol Red Corner Notice was additionally issued in opposition to him in 2016.

The native police of Surrey had additionally put Nijjar below home arrest briefly in 2018 on suspicion of his terror involvement however he was launched later.

Bilateral ties between India and Canada have been tense in latest months. Trade talks have been derailed and Canada simply cancelled commerce talks.

Last week, a senior official stated in New Delhi that negotiations for a free commerce settlement between India and Canada will resume after the decision of political points between the 2 nations.

Meanwhile, the son of Nijjar, Balraj Nijjar, on Monday stated the lack of his father remains to be recent, particularly given the circumstances of his dying.

“It’s been hard, obviously. You generally don’t expect something like this to happen even in terms of age, because he’s only 45,”  Balraj was quoted as saying by Vancouver-based Global News.

It additionally reported that Sikh group members vowed Monday to protest in entrance of the Indian consulates throughout Canada following Trudeau’s assertion.

Canada has a Sikh inhabitants of greater than 770,000 (about 2 per cent of its complete inhabitants).