India rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that it played a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India’s reaction came after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that the Indian government may have had links to the kiling of Nijjar. Trudeau said on Monday that his government had “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau told an emergency session of the parliamentary opposition.
He also called “in the strongest possible terms” on the Indian government to cooperate in clearing up the matter.
Shortly after, India rejected Trudeau’s claims. “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law,” the statement added.
“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. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the MEA further said.
“That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains 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. We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments,” it continued.
The MEA further urged the Canadian government to “take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil.”
