Whereas sticking to his allegation that Indian brokers killed pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Wednesday mentioned that he lacked “evidentiary proof” however solely had intelligence when he first went public with the accusations final yr.
Testifying earlier than Overseas Interference Fee, he admitted Canada had not shared any proof with India however solely sought to work collectively and New Delhi saved demanding proof.“Our response was, properly, it’s (proof) inside your safety businesses,” he mentioned. Later, he advised the inquiry panel wanting into surveillance of two Conservative lawmakers that there have been “clear indications India had violated Canada’s sovereignty”, stopping in need of repeating the declare they’d shared “proof” of Indian govt’s complicity in Nijjar’s killing.
Canada PM defends separatists’ freedom of expression
Trudeau’s alternative of phrases echoed what govt officers in New Delhi have been saying for a yr that Canadian authorities haven’t shared any proof to again their claims.
Trudeau, who’s grappling with a giant loss in public assist, sought to play on the sovereignty of Canada and repeatedly tried to bracket India with China and Russia.
“Indian govt made a horrific mistake in pondering that they may intrude as aggressively as they did within the security and sovereignty of Canada, and we have to reply,” Trudeau mentioned.
He mentioned Canadian police began probing the Nijjar homicide after “credible intelligence” and calls for from South Asian members of parliament and people from the neighborhood who alleged an Indian hand. He mentioned he was briefed about it in late July or early Aug.
“I used to be briefed on the truth that there was intelligence from Canada, and probably from 5 Eyes allies that made it pretty clear, extremely clear, that India was concerned on this… Brokers of the govt. of India have been concerned within the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil,” Trudeau mentioned.
He mentioned his govt might have chosen to make it “very uncomfortable” for India by going public simply earlier than the G20 Summit in Sept 2023 however selected to work with Indian govt. Trudeau additionally mentioned when he raised the difficulty with PM Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 assembly, the latter’s response was not useful. “He responded with the same old response that ‘we’ve got folks, who’re outspoken and talking in opposition to India, dwelling in Canada that we wish to see arrested’,” Trudeau mentioned, whereas looking for to defend the “freedom of expression” of a number of individuals whom India sees as pro-Khalistan separatists.
