US Backs Canada's Charge Against New Delhi on Nijjar Killing as India Holds Ground

Washington: Amid an escalation in diplomatic row between India and Canada over Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, the United States has alleged that India is not cooperating with Canada on the latter’s investigation into the killing.

“When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously. We wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not chosen that path,” news agency PTI quoted State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller as saying.

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Earlier on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused Indian government officials of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was shot dead in last June in Surrey.

“The RCMP has clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in, and continue to engage in, activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. This includes clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder. This is unacceptable,” Trudeau has alleged.

India-Canada Diplomatic Ties Hit Rock Bottom

Notably, Trudeau govt has thus far not provided any concrete evidence to support its claim.  

As the diplomatic ties between the two nations suffered another setback, India, rebuffing Ottawa's allegation, not only recalled its High Commissioner from Canada and other diplomats but also ordered explusion of six of Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.

“Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. His naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard,” it added.

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“That his government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India, only aggravated matters. Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage. This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains,” the Minister of External Affairs further added.

India has claimed that the Trudeau government has deliberately provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate the Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.

“This has included death threats to them and to Indian leaders. All these activities have been justified in the name of freedom of speech. Some individuals who have entered Canada illegally have been fast-tracked for citizenship. Multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organized crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded,” it said.

However, the US has refrained from commenting on the India-Canada diplomatic tensions.

“I don't have any comment on that. But as we've said before, they're serious allegations. And we have wanted to see India take them seriously -- seriously and cooperate with Canada's investigation. They have chosen an alternate path,” Miller said. 

(With PTI inputs)