Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned on Thursday that it’s “important” that India have interaction with Canada’s investigation into the involvement of ‘Indian brokers’ within the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. She additionally mentioned New Delhi’s determination to take away 41 Canadian diplomats from the nation was “unacceptable”.
Her feedback got here towards the backdrop of the US Justice Department’s expenses towards an Indian nationwide in an alleged homicide plot towards Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun within the US.
The Canadian Minister mentioned, “I have had numerous conversations with my American colleagues, Secretary Blinken, on the issues we are facing with India. At the same time, we call on India to engage in our own investigation, and I think it is important that they do so.”
She additionally mentioned that the nation stands by the “credible allegations” towards India.
“I respect the Indian Prime Minister and their legal system, but I can tell you that we stand by our credible allegations that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil linked to Indian agents,” Joly mentioned.
The minister additionally talked about that she is in touch with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the difficulty.
Specifically requested if India has ever cooperated with the Canadian probe, she mentioned, “We call on their cooperation to make sure that our investigation is able to proceed.”
Commenting on India’s determination to ask Canada to withdraw its diplomats, Joly mentioned the transfer was “unacceptable.”
“I think that the impact of making public our allegations and the fact that they decided to remove 41 of our diplomats were completely unacceptable,” she mentioned.
Diplomatic relations between the 2 nations deteriorated lately after Trudeau alleged the “potential” involvement of Indian brokers within the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was shot useless by two masked gunmen on June 18 in British Columbia.
However, India responded firmly, dismissing the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.” In the next days, India requested Canada to scale back its diplomatic presence in India, following which Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats from India.
On Wednesday, the US Justice Department charged a 52-year-old Indian nationwide, Nikhil Gupta, with involvement in an alleged homicide plot towards Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
India on Thursday mentioned that the US cost is a “matter of concern” and “contrary to government policy” and likewise fashioned a high-level committee to probe the allegations.
Published On:
Nov 30, 2023
Source: www.indiatoday.in
