Canadian Opposition chief says Justin Trudeau utilizing Nijjar’s homicide to divert consideration from different controversies

Canadian Opposition chief Maxime Bernier. Photograph: Wikipedia

A Canadian Opposition chief has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of utilizing Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s homicide to divert consideration from different controversies and requested the federal government to posthumously take away the Khalistani militant’s citizenship to proper the previous administrative error.

Maxime Bernier, the chief of the Folks’s Occasion of Canada, additionally mentioned the Khalistani militant who’s the central determine in the entire controversy was a overseas terrorist who was by some means granted citizenship in 2007.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) mentioned Monday it had recognized India’s Excessive Commissioner within the nation and 5 different diplomats as individuals of curiosity within the June 2023 killing of Nijjar. The RCMP additionally mentioned they uncovered proof of an intensifying marketing campaign towards Canadians by brokers of the Indian authorities.

Bernier mentioned if true, allegations made by the RCMP and the Liberal authorities that Indian diplomats participated in prison actions on our territory are very critical and ought to be handled.

“Up to now, nevertheless, we haven’t been given any proof. And Trudeau is clearly utilizing this disaster to divert the eye from different controversies,” he mentioned.

Bernier mentioned Nijjar was a overseas terrorist who used fraudulent paperwork to assert asylum in Canada a number of occasions.

“One fable ought to be dispelled although: That the central determine on this controversy, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani militant who was murdered final 12 months, was a Canadian. He was truly a overseas terrorist who used fraudulent paperwork to assert asylum in Canada a number of occasions beginning in 1997. His claims have been rejected however he was however allowed to remain on this nation and was by some means granted citizenship in 2007,” he mentioned.

“Nijjar wasn’t a Canadian. Canada ought to maybe posthumously take away his citizenship to proper this administrative error,” he mentioned.

He ought to have been deported after his first faux asylum declare, just like the tons of of 1000’s of faux asylum claimants who’re in Canada proper now, Bernier mentioned.

“All that is taking place as a result of Canada has for many years intentionally invited these foreigners and their tribal conflicts into our nation. We must always recognise this main blunder and work with the federal government of India to seek out options as an alternative of jeopardising our relationships with a rising world energy and an vital ally over this difficulty,” he added.

Timeline: What led to India, Canada expelling prime diplomats?

The relations between India and Canada got here beneath extreme pressure following Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations in September final 12 months of a “potential” involvement of Indian brokers within the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia. New Delhi had rejected Trudeau’s costs as “absurd”.

India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau’s authorities for being comfortable on supporters of the Khalistan motion who dwell in Canada. The Khalistan motion is banned in India however has assist among the many Sikh diaspora, significantly in Canada.

India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday and introduced that it’s withdrawing its Excessive Commissioner in Canada, after dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Nijjar.

Canada, nevertheless, mentioned it has expelled six Indian diplomats.

The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi mentioned on Monday India obtained a “diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian Excessive Commissioner and different diplomats are ‘individuals of curiosity’ in a matter associated to an investigation in that nation”.

“We have now no religion within the present Canadian authorities’s dedication to make sure their safety. Subsequently, the federal government of India has determined to withdraw the excessive commissioner and different focused diplomats and officers,” the MEA mentioned in an announcement.