New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Thursday said Ottawa was yet to share evidence with New Delhi over allegations that the government of India was linked to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and hit out at the Canadian government for giving “political space” to “separatists, extremists and those advocating violence”.
Spokesperson for the MEA Randhir Jaiswal said: “Let me make it clear that no specific or relevant evidence or information has been shared by the Canadian authorities in regards to this particular matter (on the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case) till date with us. You will, therefore, understand our view that the matter is being pre-judged.”
He added at the weekly press briefing that there were “obviously” political interests at work. “We have long maintained that separatists, extremists and those advocating violence have been given political space in Canada. Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity and obstructed in their performance of duties.”
Jaiswal’s comments follow Canadian foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly’s doubling down Tuesday on Ottawa’s allegations that Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a designated terrorist by India – was killed by agents of the government of India.
“We stand by the allegations that a Canadian was killed on Canadian soil by Indian agents,” Joly told the media before a cabinet meeting.
Nijjar, was gunned down outside a gurdwara on 18 June 2023. Three Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh, were arrested and charged by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) last week for the killing.
Jaiswal confirmed that the Indian government was informed of the arrest of the three nationals. He added the government had pointed out to Canada that “figures associated with organised crime with links with India” have been allowed entry and “residency” in Canada.
A number of Indian extradition requests for these individuals were “pending” and this has been raised at the “diplomatic level”, Jaiswal said.
Canada first accused Indian agents of killing Nijjar on 18 September 2023, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Canadian parliament that authorities were investigating “credible allegations” of a link between Indian officials and the killing of the Sikh separatist.
Nijjar, who was designated by India as a terrorist in 2021, was part of a list of 10 names shared by then Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh with Trudeau and his defence minister Harjit Sajjan in 2018, when the leaders met, reported The Globe and Mail, earlier this week.
India had subsequently termed Canada’s allegations “absurd and motivated” and urged for diplomatic “parity”, following which Ottawa removed 41 diplomats and their dependents from the country.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Canadian police arrest 3 Indian nationals in Nijjar killing, say ‘ties to govt of India’ under probe