Canada’s prime minister says Canadian security agencies are investigating “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the killing of a prominent Sikh-Canadian who was an activist earlier this year.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday afternoon, Justin Trudeau said he had personally expressed “deep concerns” to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead on June 18 outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a city in Canada’s western province of British Columbia, prompting widespread questions and condemnation.
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said Monday.
“In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the Indian government to work with Canada to resolve this matter.”
The Indian High Commission in the Canadian capital Ottawa did not immediately return Al Jazeera’s request for comment on the allegations.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said later Monday that the government had expelled an Indian diplomat — the head of India’s foreign intelligence agency, known as RAW, in Canada — over the allegations.
He did not provide further details, such as the name of the officer or when the dismissal took place.
“We see this possible violation of sovereignty as completely unacceptable, and that is why we are here. [out] with this information today,” said Joly to reporters during a short press conference.
The Globe and Mail newspaper first reported that Canadian national security authorities had “what they considered reliable intelligence that India was behind” the killing of Nijjar.
Sources who spoke to the Canadian news outlet did not say how they made that determination.
“The Canadian government has privately ruled out cutting diplomatic ties with New Delhi but is considering measures to respond to what it considers a serious violation of Canadian sovereignty,” the newspaper reported, citing anonymity. sources.
Close relationship
Monday’s accusations come amid strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, which have been tested over a range of issues including a stalled trade deal and Sikh activism in Canada more broadly.
Modi, the Indian prime minister, expressed “strong concerns” about the Sikh protests in Canada during his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20, the Indian government said in a statement after discussion.
“They promote secessionism and incite violence against Indian diplomats, deface diplomatic facilities, and threaten the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship,” the statement said.
According to the Globe and Mail and other media reports, Nijjar has been designated a “terrorist” by Indian authorities.
“India’s counter-terrorism National Investigation Agency (NIA) has accused him of conspiring to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab and in 2022 it announced a reward equal to $16,200 for information leading to his arrest,” the Canadian newspaper said Monday.
The activist is also involved with a group called “Sikhs for Justice”, CBC News reported. The organization pushed for an independent Sikh state in India, a call rejected by the Indian authorities.
Canadian lawmakers from across the political spectrum were quick to criticize India on Monday for its potential role in the activist’s killing.
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said in the House of Commons that if the allegations were true, they would represent a “terrible affront” to Canadian sovereignty.
“Canadians deserve to be protected on Canadian soil,” Poilievre said. “We call on the Indian government to act with utmost transparency as the authorities investigate this murder because the truth must come out.”
Canadian authorities continue to investigate Nijjar’s murder, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) saying last month they had identified a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. According to the authorities, they are looking for the three suspects.
Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the progressive New Democratic Party (NDP), who is of Sikh descent, said it was important for Canada to use “every tool” available to investigate the killing.
“We need to know the truth. We need to find out all the potential links, and anyone and everyone responsible should be brought to justice using the full powers of a democratic country,” Singh said.
