New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated on Thursday that Canada has yet to provide any concrete evidence regarding the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed last year. The MEA stated that despite repeated requests since September 2023, Canada has not shared any information to substantiate its claims linking India to the incident.
The ministry pointed out that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations have so far been unsupported, raising concerns about the political motives behind such accusations. “These claims appear to follow a clear pattern of tarnishing India’s reputation for political reasons,” the MEA spokesperson remarked during a press briefing.
Canada historically benefitted from people-to-people ties
Trade and people-to-people ties between India and Canada remain intact, the MEA noted, with Canada having historically benefitted from these connections. However, diplomatic tensions have heightened in recent months, particularly over issues related to the extradition of Indian criminals residing in Canada.
India has submitted 26 extradition requests to Canada over the past few years, but Canadian authorities have yet to act on these. Some of the individuals named in these requests include Gurjit Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh Landa, and Arshdeep Singh—all wanted in connection with serious crimes. India expressed frustration at Canada’s failure to take concrete action against these individuals.
In light of the deteriorating diplomatic situation, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, along with five other diplomats, will be returning to India. The MEA cited security concerns as the reason for withholding specific travel details related to their return.
