India rejects Canada’s charge over Khalistani terrorist’s killing: ‘Absurd, motivated’

The central government on Tuesday rejected the Canadian government’s allegation regarding India’s role in the killing of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.

The government termed the charges by Canada as “absurd and motivated” and said India has strong commitment to rule of law.

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country’s security agencies were probing a link between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey by two unidentified assailants on June 18 this year. Trudeau also said he had brought up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau told the House of Commons.

However, the central government said, “Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected.” The MEA statement further said, “We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”

India further charged that such “unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The central government also alleged that Canada’s inaction in dealing with the Khalistani terrorists has been a “long-standing and continuing concern”.

The statement also said that the Canadian political figures “openly expressing sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern”.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new. We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments,” MEA statement asserted.

India also urged the Canadian government to take “prompt and effective legal action” against all “anti-India elements” operating from their soil.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had moved to Canada in the late 1990s, was the Chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). He was declared as a designated terrorist by India in 2020.

Following Trudeau’s speech in the House of Commons, Canada has also expelled Indian diplomat from the country.