Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, shakes fingers with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi forward of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 9, 2023.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, shakes fingers with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi forward of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 9, 2023.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Canada expelled a prime Indian diplomat Monday because it investigates what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau known as credible allegations that India’s authorities could have had hyperlinks to the assassination in Canada of a Sikh activist.
Trudeau mentioned in Parliament that Canadian intelligence businesses have been trying into the allegations after Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a robust supporter of an impartial Sikh homeland generally known as Khalistan, was gunned down on June 18 outdoors a Sikh cultural heart in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau advised Parliament that he introduced up the slaying with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the G20 final week, that he advised Modi that any Indian authorities involvement could be unacceptable and that he requested for cooperation within the investigation.
Canadian International Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned the pinnacle of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a consequence. “If confirmed true this is able to be an excellent violation of our sovereignty and of essentially the most primary rule of how international locations cope with one another,” Joly mentioned. “As a consequence we’ve got expelled a prime Indian diplomat.”
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa didn’t instantly reply cellphone calls from The Related Press looking for remark.
“Over the previous variety of weeks Canadian safety businesses have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a possible hyperlink between brokers of the federal government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trudeau mentioned Canada has declared its deep issues to the Indian authorities.
“Final week on the G-20 I introduced them personally and on to Prime Minister Modi in no unsure phrases,” Trudeau mentioned. “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 his authorities has been working intently and coordinating with Canada’s allies on the case.
“Within the strongest doable phrases I proceed to induce the federal government of India to cooperate with Canada to unravel this matter,” he mentioned.
Trudeau mentioned he is aware of there are some members of the Indo-Canadian group who really feel offended or frightened, and he known as for calm.
Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc mentioned Canada’s nationwide safety advisor and the pinnacle of Canada’s spy service have travelled to India to satisfy their counterparts and to confront the Indian intelligence businesses with the allegations.
He known as it an lively murder investigation led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Joly mentioned Trudeau additionally the raised the matter with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Opposition Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre mentioned if the allegations are true they signify “an outrageous affront to our sovereignty.”
The Khalistan motion is banned in India, the place officers see it and affiliated teams as a nationwide safety risk. However the motion nonetheless has some assist in northern India, in addition to past, in international locations like Canada and the UK that are residence to a large Sikh diaspora.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/WIU3CEVLLFLMXCHBPIDICCY2SU.jpg "Canada’s Sikhs are grateful – and afraid – after Trudeau’s India allegations")
