Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Thursday that Canada would not share evidence from an inquiry into the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.
Trudeau stated on Monday that Ottawa had serious claims that Indian government agents were involved in the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, drawing a strong response from New Delhi. Nijjar, 45, was a citizen of Canada.
According to CBC News, which cited sources, the Canadian government has gathered both human and signals intelligence in a months-long probe into the death of the Sikh separatist leader.
So far, traditional Canadian allies have adopted a cautious approach to the situation. Political observers believe this is due in part to the United States and other major players viewing India as a counterweight to China’s expanding influence.
“There is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with … and we’re not looking to provoke or cause problems,” Trudeau said in a press conference in New York on the sidelines of the annual high-level United Nations General Assembly. “But we are unequivocal around the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians.”
“That’s why we call upon the government of India to work with us to establish processes to discover and to uncover the truth of the matter.”
According to the CBC story, citing Canadian sources, no Indian official has rejected the claim of the Indian government’s complicity in Nijjar’s killing when questioned behind closed doors.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CBC report from Reuters.
According to the report, the intelligence includes communications involving Indian officials, including Indian diplomats in Canada, and that part of the intelligence was provided by an unnamed ally in the Five Eyes alliance.
Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing network comprised of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The US is in contact with both Canada and India in response to Ottawa’s charges, according to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who confirmed for the first time that Washington was in contact with New Delhi.
“There’s not some special exemption you get for actions like this,” Sullivan told reporters when asked about Trudeau’s statement about possible Indian involvement. “It is a matter of concern for us. It is something we take seriously.”
When US President Joe Biden and various members of the Five Eyes met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 this month, they discussed the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to the Financial Times on Thursday.
According to the Indian foreign ministry, Canada has not provided any detailed details about the murder. Nijjar advocated for a Sikh homeland in the form of an independent Khalistani state and was labeled a “terrorist” by India in July 2020.
“As a country with a strong and independent justice system, we allow those justice processes to unfold themselves with the utmost integrity,” Trudeau replied when asked when Canada would release the evidence it had.
On Thursday, India stopped new visas for Canadians and requested that Ottawa downsize its diplomatic presence in the country. When asked about these initiatives, Trudeau did not comment.
Separately, an Indian trade official stated that there is no reason for Canadian pension funds to stop investing in India.
