Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 7
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India Monday of making a “fundamental error,” as an escalating row over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil last year saw both countries expel each other’s ambassadors.
A grave Trudeau branded New Delhi’s actions as “unacceptable” during a press conference in Ottawa on the diplomatic expulsions, which saw tensions reach a new height after the 2023 murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau has previously said there were “credible allegations” linking Indian intelligence services to the killing. Both countries have traded barbs since then, culminating with the expulsions Monday of each other’s ambassadors and five other top diplomats in both countries.
“The government of India made a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil, whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa, hours after the expulsions were announced.
“We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil, a deeply unacceptable violation of Canada’s sovereignty and of international law,” he said.
The expulsions came after New Delhi said its envoy had been named among “persons of interest” following the killing of Nijjar.
“The decision to expel these individuals was made with great consideration and only after the RCMP gathered ample, clear and concrete evidence which identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case,” she said in a statement, referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Nijjar — who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen in 2015 — had advocated for a separate Sikh state, known as Khalistan, carved out of India. He had been wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder.
Four Indian nationals have been arrested in connection with Nijjar’s murder, which took place in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Vancouver in June 2023.
‘Murder’
India on Monday called allegations it was connected to the killing “preposterous” and a “strategy of smearing India for political gains.”
The foreign ministry also summoned Canadian envoy Wheeler, who said that Ottawa had given India the evidence it had demanded.
“Canada has provided credible, irrefutable evidence of ties between agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,” Wheeler told reporters after leaving the ministry.
“It is in the interest of both our countries and the peoples of our countries to get to the bottom of this.” India then announced his expulsion.
Source: AFP
