NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday spoke to UK PM Keir Starmer, as diplomatic tensions between India and Canada mount over Khalistan chief Nijjar’s killing.
“Right this moment, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, mentioned latest developments associated to a focused marketing campaign towards Canadian residents by brokers linked to the federal government of India,” a press release launched by Canadian PM’s workplace stated.
“The leaders mentioned the necessity to guarantee the security and safety of their residents and the significance of upholding and respecting the rule of regulation. Prime Minister Trudeau underscored Canada’s continued curiosity in cooperation with India to handle this severe matter,” the assertion additional stated.
Following Ottawa’s allegations, connecting the Indian envoy to the investigation into the killing of pro-Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and introduced the withdrawal of its excessive commissioner and different focused officers from Canada.
Earlier within the day, India had “strongly” rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian excessive commissioner and different diplomats had been “individuals of curiosity” in an investigation, and termed it as “preposterous imputations” and a part of the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau authorities.
“We’ve got obtained a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian Excessive Commissioner and different diplomats are ‘individuals of curiosity’ in a matter associated to an investigation in that nation. The Authorities of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau authorities that’s centered round vote financial institution politics,” the assertion stated.
Harpreet Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen since 2015 who had immigrated from India in 1997, was identified for his help of making an unbiased Sikh nation known as Khalistan.
In June 2023, Nijjar was killed within the parking zone of a Vancouver Sikh temple. The ties between India and Canada soured after Trudeau alleged within the Canadian Parliament final yr that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand within the killing of Khalistani terrorist. India has refuted all of the accusations, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Nijjar was designated a terrorist by NIA in 2020.
