NEW DELHI: India’s outgoing Excessive Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who was recalled by New Delhi final week, has denied any involvement within the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, including that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has destroyed bilateral political relations between the 2 nations.
In an unique interview to CTV Information, Verma explicitly condemned Nijjar’s killing, stating: “Any homicide is improper and unhealthy.I do condemn it and that’s what I’ve mentioned in lots of interviews.”
When questioned if he had something to do with Nijjar’s killing, the envoy mentioned: “Nothing in any respect. No proof was offered [by Canada]. (That is) politically motivated.”
Within the interview with host Vassy Kapelos on CTV that aired on Sunday, Verma asserted that Trudeau’s resolution to balme India for Nijjar’s killing was primarily based on intelligence data somewhat than concrete proof.
“On the premise of intelligence, if you wish to destroy a relationship, be my visitor. And that is what he [Trudeau] did,” Verma added.
In response to a query from Kapelos concerning Canada’s allegations that diplomats and Indian authorities officers are allegedly concerned in coercing cooperation and knowledge from South East Asians residing in Canada, Verma asserted that the method is completely clear.
“There may be nothing covert. It is all overt … we learn the newspapers, we learn their statements, since we perceive Punjabi. So we learn their social media posts, and attempt to infer from there,” mentioned Verma.
The envoy additionally firmly denied any private involvement in such actions, stating, “I, as Excessive Commissioner of India, have by no means finished something of that sort.”
He additional emphasised the significance of staying knowledgeable in regards to the actions of pro-Khalistani teams in Canada, because it aligns with India’s nationwide pursuits.
When Kapelos requested whether or not the Indian authorities has ever focused particular people with the intent of inflicting their loss of life, Verma responded: “By no means”.
Verma’s remarks come on the heels of accusations made by the RCMP and the Canadian federal authorities, alleging that Indian diplomats and consular officers stationed in Canada have been participating in covert actions linked to severe prison offenses within the nation, together with homicides and extortions.
When questioned by Kapelos about whether or not India’s clarification leaves “Canadians with the impression that (the Indian) authorities does have one thing to cover,” Verma insisted “completely not”.
“In reality, we’ve been asking for (proof) for the final one yr, which the RCMP has additionally mentioned … After which if you don’t share with us the explanation to your go to, how do we all know?” mentioned Verma.
India- Canada diplomatic row
The diplomatic row between India and Canada erupted when Trudeau accused India of orchestrating Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia in June final yr.
India labelled the claims as “absurd” and a part of a broader political transfer by Trudeau to enchantment to the pro-Khalistani vote.
Canada is residence to the world’s largest Sikh inhabitants outdoors of Punjab and demonstrations advocating for the creation of a separate Sikh homeland inside India have induced stress between the 2 nations.
Tensions escalated when Canada recognized India’s Excessive Commissioner and different diplomats as “individuals of curiosity” within the Nijjar investigation.
In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats after summoning Cost d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler.
The Indian authorities condemned Canada’s “baseless focusing on” as unacceptable and expressed issues in regards to the security of its diplomats amid rising extremism.
India additionally introduced the withdrawal of Excessive Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, asserting its proper to take additional motion towards what it perceives as Canadian help for extremism.
Baseless and politically motivated: MEA
Earlier, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) labeled the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, suggesting they stem from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s home agenda. The MEA famous that Trudeau’s “hostility in the direction of India” has been evident for a while.
“The federal government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau authorities that’s centred round vote financial institution politics,” the MEA mentioned in an announcement.
“Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has lengthy been in proof. In 2018, his go to to India, which was aimed toward currying favour with a vote financial institution, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cupboard has included people who’ve overtly related to an extremist and separatist agenda concerning India. His bare interference in Indian inside politics in December 2020 confirmed how far he was prepared to go on this regard. That his Authorities was depending on a political celebration, whose chief overtly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India, solely aggravated issues,” it added.
The MEA referred to previous occasions as a reminder of the strained ties between the 2 nations, worsened by what India sees as Trudeau’s repeated interference in its inside affairs.
Accused India primarily based on intelligence: Trudeau
Trudeau, testifying earlier than a overseas interference inquiry, has acknowledged that his authorities initially accused India primarily based on intelligence, somewhat than concrete proof, in reference to Nijjar’s assassination final yr.
Trudeau mentioned intelligence from Canada and its allies prompt Indian brokers have been concerned, however admitted there was no arduous proof on the time.
“We advised India it isn’t arduous proof however simply intelligence at that time,” he mentioned, including: “Behind the scenes (have been making an attempt) India to co-operate with us. Their ask was … give us the proof you could have on us. Our response was it’s inside your safety company. Try to be trying into how a lot they know, you need to be participating. ‘No, no however present us the proof’. At that time, it was primarily intelligence, not arduous evidentiary proof. So we mentioned let’s work collectively.”
India rejects Trudeau’s statements
India rejected Trudeau’s statements, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal saying, “What we’ve heard solely confirms what we’ve been saying constantly all alongside — Canada has offered us no proof in anyway in help of the intense allegations it has levelled towards India and Indian diplomats.” Jaiswal went on to say that the harm induced to India-Canada relations is completely Trudeau’s accountability.
“The accountability for the harm that this cavalier behaviour has induced to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” he mentioned in his assertion.
