India has strongly rejected the allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that there is a “potential link” between the Indian government and the killing of the pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Vancouver last month.
Tamsil Shahezad Khan | Editor | 03:02 pm IST
New Dehli: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India had conveyed to Ottawa that it was not “Government of India’s policy” to be involved in such incidents and asked Canada to share any specific evidence if it had any. He also accused Canada of being a “safe haven” for “terrorists, extremists and organised violence” linked to the secessionist forces in Punjab and said India had given them a lot of information about their leaders and activities.
Jaishankar made these remarks during an interaction at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. He said India had also told Canada that its political situation could have a say in the matter and that it should not allow “political convenience” to determine its response to “terrorism, extremism and violence”.
He said India had been “badgering” Canada for years to act against the secessionist elements operating from its soil, who had threatened and attacked Indian diplomats and consulates and interfered in India’s internal affairs. He said India respected Canada’s sovereignty but expected the same from it.
Jaishankar’s comments came amid public statements from the US, among other friendly nations, stressing the importance of India cooperating with Canada on the investigation into Nijjar’s killing. India has maintained that it has not received any specific evidence, though Canada has claimed otherwise.
Nijjar, who was wanted by India for his alleged involvement in several terror attacks in Punjab, was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his home in Vancouver on August 28. He was the founder of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned outfit that advocates for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab.
Trudeau, who has faced criticism for his perceived soft stance on the Khalistan issue, had said on September 13 that there was a “potential link between agents of the Government of India” and Nijjar’s killing and that Canada would “not tolerate foreign interference or influence” in its affairs.
India had summoned Canada’s High Commissioner Nadir Patel on September 14 and lodged a strong protest over Trudeau’s remarks, calling them “unwarranted” and “unacceptable”. It had also asked Canada to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals and interests in Canada.
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