Topline
Canada’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader on its soil is reportedly backed by information gathered from surveilling Indian diplomats in Canada, a revelation that comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that his country would not release evidence in its possession.
President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Ursula … [+] von der Leyen speak with each other before the start of the second working session meeting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
Key Facts
The alleged evidence of India’s involvement is based on intelligence gathered from Canada’s surveillance of communications involving Indian authorities and the country’s diplomats in Canada, the Associated Press and CBC News reported citing unnamed Canadian officials.
Some of the evidence in question was provided to Canada by another member of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance that also includes the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
The exact details about the nature of these conversations is unclear.
According to CBC, Canadian officials repeatedly traveled to India to seek official cooperation in investigating the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen who was gunned down in Surrey earlier this year.
Canadian security officials had reportedly warned Nijjar that his life was in danger.
Despite publicly denying their involvement in the killing, Indian officials have not done so in closed-door meetings with Canadian officials, the report added.
Crucial Quote
At a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Trudeau said: “There is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with. . . . But we are unequivocal around the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians.”
What To Watch For
While seeking India’s cooperation in the investigation, Trudeau signaled that his government would not publicly release evidence in its possession, saying he intends to allow judicial processes “to unfold themselves with the utmost integrity.”
Key Background
Earlier this week, Trudeau disclosed before the Canadian parliament that his country’s security agencies were pursuing “credible allegations” of links between “agents of the government of India” and Nijjar’s murder. Nijjar had been labeled a “terrorist” by the Indian government for his support of the separatist Khalistan movement, which calls for the creation of an independent homeland for Sikhs carved from India’s territory. The 45-year-old was born in the North Indian state of Punjab and migrated to Canada in the 1990s. India has strongly denied involvement in the killing, calling Trudeau’s allegations “absurd and motivated.” On Friday, India suspended visa services in Canada and later clarified that it has stopped issuing visas to Canadian nationals over safety issues. India has also warned its nationals in Canada to remain alert in the face of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate crimes,” in the country.
Further Reading
Canada has Indian diplomats’ communications in bombshell murder probe: sources (CBC News)
Surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada led to allegations around Sikh killing, official says (Associated Press)
Canada’s Trudeau wants India to cooperate in murder probe, declines to release evidence (Reuters)
