“For the past few weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively investigating credible allegations of possible links between Indian government agents and the murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said, as quoted by CNN. The Canadian prime minister added that his government would take all necessary steps “to hold those responsible for this murder accountable.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on June 18 this year. Shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. The Sikh activist advocated the creation of an independent state of Khalistan exclusively for members of the Sikh community. The Indian government considered him a terrorist and accused him of carrying out separatist activities.
Crisis in Canada-India relations. Trade talks are suspended
During a speech to the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau announced that the Canadian government’s concerns had been conveyed to high-level Indian officials, and he personally conveyed them to the Indian Prime Minister during the G20 summit in New Delhi.
“Any involvement by a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said, adding that it was a “very serious matter.”
Canada recently suspended trade talks with India and decided not to send a trade mission planned for this fall.
According to the BBC, the Indian government vehemently denies having anything to do with Nijar’s death.
Canada expels Indian diplomat
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie told reporters that a senior Indian diplomat, the head of Indian intelligence at the embassy in Ottawa, has been expelled from Canada, Reuters reported. – (Assessment of murder – version) If true, it is a huge violation of our sovereignty (…) As a result, we expelled a high-ranking Indian diplomat – said Jolie, as quoted by Associated. Press.
Since the 1940s, proponents of the Khalistan movement have been calling for the creation of a state for followers of the Sikh religion in what is now India’s Punjab region. Sikhism was founded in the 15th century and combines Hindu and Muslim beliefs. Currently, he has around 27 million followers worldwide.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP since 2017, is the Sikh leader of the New Democrats, an informal coalition partner in Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.
Canada has the largest Sikh diaspora outside of Punjab. Nijjar’s death sparked demonstrations and protests. The largest demonstration took place on July 8, when hundreds of people gathered in front of the Indian Consulate in Toronto.
(Sources: CNN, BBC, PAP)
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