New Delhi: After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the United States expressed ” concern” about these allegations. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, conveyed this concern in an email statement emphasizing the need for an investigation in Canada to identify and bring to justice those
Trudeau claimed that his government had ” evidence” linking the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar to individuals connected with the government. However, India promptly rejected these allegations as “baseless and motivated.”
India’s response emphasized that such unsubstantiated accusations divert attention from the presence of Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have sought refuge in Canada. These elements continue to pose a threat to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as stated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
In retaliation, India expelled a ranking diplomat in response to Canada’s expulsion of an Indian diplomat. The identity of the diplomat has not been and has been instructed to leave India within five days.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who resided in Canada, was labeled as a ‘terrorist’ by India. He was fatally shot by attackers near a gurdwara in Surrey back in June. This recent development has added tension to the strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi. In a meeting at the G20 Summit in Delhi this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his ” concerns regarding the ongoing anti India activities of extremist groups in Canada” to his Canadian counterpart.