TORONTO (AP) — Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat Monday as a part of an investigation into what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau known as credible allegations that the Indian authorities might have had hyperlinks to the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.
Trudeau stated in Parliament that Canadian intelligence businesses had been investigating the allegations after Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nigar, a staunch supporter of an unbiased Sikh homeland often called Khalistan, was shot lifeless on June 18 outdoors a Sikh cultural middle in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau instructed Parliament that he raised the homicide situation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the G20 summit final week, and that he instructed Modi that any involvement of the Indian authorities can be unacceptable, and that he requested cooperation within the investigation.
Canadian International Minister Melanie Jolie stated the Indian intelligence chief in Canada was fired in consequence. “If this proves true, will probably be a significant violation of our sovereignty and the essential rule of how nations take care of one another,” Jolie stated. Consequently, we expelled a senior Indian diplomat.”
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa didn’t instantly return cellphone calls from The Related Press in search of remark.
“Over the previous few weeks, Canadian safety businesses have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a doable hyperlink between Indian authorities brokers and the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nigar,” Trudeau stated.
Trudeau stated Canada has expressed its deep considerations to the Indian authorities.
“Final week through the G20 summit, I introduced these issues personally and on to Prime Minister Modi in no unsure phrases,” Trudeau stated. He added: “Any overseas authorities involvement within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Trudeau stated his authorities is working intently and coordinating with Canada’s allies on this situation.
“Within the strongest doable phrases, I proceed to induce the Authorities of India to cooperate with Canada to resolve this matter,” he stated.
Trudeau stated he is aware of that there are some members of the Indian-Canadian neighborhood who really feel offended or afraid, and known as for calm.
Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that Canada’s Nationwide Safety Advisor and the pinnacle of Canada’s spy company traveled to India to satisfy their counterparts and confront Indian intelligence businesses with these allegations.
He described it as an lively murder investigation led by the RCMP.
Jolie stated Trudeau additionally raised the matter with US President Joe Biden.
Opposition Conservative Get together chief Pierre Poilievre stated that if these allegations had been true, they represented an “outrageous insult to our sovereignty.”
The Khalistan motion is banned in India, the place officers and affiliated teams take into account it a risk to nationwide safety. However the motion nonetheless has some assist in northern India, in addition to in different nations corresponding to Canada and the UK, that are dwelling to a big Sikh diaspora.