Canada investigating possible link between India, killing of Sikh activist | Politics News

Justin Trudeau calls on Indian authorities to cooperate with probe into Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing in Canada in June.

Canada’s prime minister has mentioned Canadian safety businesses are investigating “credible allegations of a possible hyperlink” between Indian authorities brokers and the killing of a distinguished Sikh-Canadian activist earlier this yr.

Talking in Parliament on Monday afternoon, Justin Trudeau mentioned he personally conveyed “deep considerations” to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot on June 18 exterior a Sikh temple in Surrey, a metropolis in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia.

“Any involvement of a overseas authorities within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau mentioned on Monday.

“Within the strongest potential phrases, I proceed to induce the federal government of India to cooperate with Canada to resolve this matter.”

The Excessive Fee of India within the Canadian capital Ottawa didn’t instantly return Al Jazeera’s request for touch upon the allegations.

The Globe and Mail newspaper first reported on Monday that Canadian nationwide safety authorities have “what they think about credible intelligence that India was behind” the killing of Nijjar.

Sources that spoke to the Canadian information outlet didn’t say how they made that willpower.

“The Canadian authorities has privately dominated out severing diplomatic relations with New Delhi however is contemplating measures to reply to what it considers a critical violation of Canadian sovereignty,” the newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.

Monday’s accusations come amid already strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, which have been examined over a spread of points together with a stalled commerce deal and Sikh activism in Canada extra broadly.

Modi, the Indian prime minister, expressed “robust considerations” about Sikh protests in Canada throughout his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20, the Indian authorities mentioned in an announcement after the discussions.

“They’re selling secessionism and inciting violence towards Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian neighborhood in Canada and their locations of worship,” the statement mentioned.

Based on the Globe and Mail and different media studies, Nijjar was designated as a “terrorist” by the Indian authorities.

“India’s counter-terrorism Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) has alleged he conspired to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab and in 2022 it introduced a reward equal to $16,200 for info resulting in his arrest,” the Canadian newspaper mentioned on Monday.

The activist was additionally concerned with a gaggle referred to as “Sikhs for Justice”, CBC Information has reported. The organisation pushes for an impartial Sikh state in India, a name the Indian authorities have rejected outright.

Canadian lawmakers from throughout the political spectrum have been fast to denounce India on Monday for its potential position within the activist’s killing.

Pierre Poilievre, the chief of the opposition Conservative Occasion, mentioned within the Home of Commons that if if the allegations are true, they’d signify an “outrageous affront” to Canadian sovereignty.

“Canadians should be protected on Canadian soil,” Poilievre mentioned. “We name on the Indian authorities to behave with utmost transparency as authorities examine this homicide as a result of the reality should come out.”

Canadian authorities proceed to research Nijjar’s killing, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) saying last month that that they had recognized a car believed to have been concerned within the incident. Authorities say they’re in search of three suspects.

Jagmeet Singh, the chief of the progressive New Democratic Occasion (NDP), who’s of Sikh descent, mentioned it was vital for Canada to make use of “each device” obtainable to research the killing.

“We have to know the reality. We have to know all potential hyperlinks, and anybody and everybody accountable must be delivered to justice utilizing the total energy of a democratic nation,” Singh mentioned.