New Delhi: Amid rising tensions between India and Canada, Indian government once again emphasised that Canada failed to provide any evidence linking India to the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement, reiterating that Justin Trudeau’s government has not presented any concrete proof despite serious accusations made against India.
The accusations stem from Nijjar’s murder in June 2023, when Trudeau’s government accused that Indian agents were involved in the killing. India has strongly denied these claims, stating that it has not received any credible evidence to back up the allegations.
What MEA said
According to the MEA, Trudeau’s failure to provide concrete proof is damaging the relationship between the two countries. In their latest statement, the MEA held Trudeau responsible for the deterioration in ties, accusing him of playing vote bank politics in his country.
The Canadian Prime Minister confessed that his government had only shared intelligence information with India regarding Nijjar’s murder and not any solid evidence. Canada had previously claimed it had given evidence to India. This shift in Trudeau’s stance is now being widely discussed, with many questioning his handling of the matter.
What Canadian opposition leader said
Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also criticised Trudeau, accusing him of lying to the public and using this issue to divert attention from internal problems. Poilievre’s criticism centred around claims that China interfered in Canada’s last two elections, helping Trudeau win, and he accused Trudeau of hiding this information from the public.
Pressure on Trudeau is growing, not only from political opponents but also from within his own Liberal Party. Sean Casey, a Member of Parliament from Trudeau’s party, publicly called for Trudeau to resign as party leader before the next election. According to Casey, many Canadians have lost confidence in Trudeau’s leadership and are frustrated with his handling of the country’s foreign relations and internal issues.
The situation escalated further when Canada expelled Indian diplomats over the case, claiming a lack of cooperation from the Indian side. According to Trudeau, Canadian authorities tried to question these diplomats, but Indian officials did not cooperate, citing diplomatic immunity. This led Canada to take the decision to expel them.
