US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Canada’s allegations against India regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar “must be taken seriously.”
Summary:
– The US has labeled Canada’s allegations against India as “serious.”
– India denies having credible evidence of involvement in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death.
– India accuses Trudeau of catering to the Sikh community for political purposes.
The US, on Tuesday, claimed that India is not cooperating with Canada in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. This statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller comes as the diplomatic tensions between Delhi and Ottawa escalate.
India has firmly rejected Canada’s claims of providing credible evidence linking it to the Nijjar case, dismissing the allegations as “preposterous.” India further accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of pandering to the large Sikh community in Canada for political advantage.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “We have made it clear that the allegations in the Canadian matter are extremely serious and must be taken seriously. We expected the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in its investigation, but they have obviously not chosen to do so.”
The Ministry of External Affairs stated, “Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility toward India has been evident for some time. His 2018 visit to India, intended to appeal to a particular vote bank, backfired. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly supported an extremist and separatist agenda concerning India. His blatant interference in India’s internal affairs in December 2020 demonstrated just how far he is willing to go.”
New Zealand also weighed in on Canada’s allegations against India, becoming the second ‘Five Eyes’ country to comment on the ongoing dispute between the two nations over Nijjar’s killing.
Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the “alleged criminal conduct publicly outlined by Canadian law enforcement, if proven, would be deeply concerning.”
Winston Peters added, “At the same time, we do not comment on the specifics of ongoing criminal investigations, whether in New Zealand or abroad, except to emphasize the importance of respecting the rule of law and judicial processes.”
Meanwhile, India has accused Canada of sheltering individuals with ties to organized crime. In May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticized Canada’s immigration policy following the arrest of three Indian nationals allegedly linked to Nijjar’s killing.
“A number of individuals with organized crime connections from Punjab have been welcomed in Canada. We have informed Canada that these are wanted criminals from India, yet they have been granted visas. The Canadian government has taken no action,” Jaishankar stated.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Surrey in June last year, and Prime Minister Trudeau has accused India of being involved in his assassination.
In response to these allegations, India not only recalled its High Commissioner from Canada but also expelled six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.
