Ottawa/New Delhi – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while testifying before Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference, acknowledged that his government had only “intelligence” but “no hard evidentiary proof” regarding allegations against India for the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This testimony comes amid a major diplomatic standoff between Canada and India, further escalating tensions.
In a statement following Trudeau’s testimony on Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated its longstanding position that Canada has not provided any evidence to substantiate serious allegations against Indian diplomats. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along – Canada has presented us with no evidence whatsoever.”
Diplomatic row was ignited in September 2023, when Prime Minister Trudeau accused the Indian government of potential involvement in Nijjar’s killing. Najjar, designated a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Trudeau’s claims, presented without concrete evidence, have since led to a deterioration in relations between the two countries.
Trudeau’s Testimony
During his appearance before a public inquiry into foreign interference, Trudeau asserted that the Canadian government had intelligence indicating a violation of Canadian sovereignty by India. He claimed Indian diplomats were allegedly collecting information on Canadians critical of the Modi government and passing it to criminal organizations, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Despite his claims, Trudeau admitted re was no hard evidence. “We had intelligence, but not hard evidentiary proof,” he told the commission, explaining that information was sufficient for Canada to take the matter seriously.
India’s Response
In New Delhi, Indian officials dismissed Trudeau’s testimony and allegations as baseless. MEA accused Trudeau of damaging India-Canada relations through “cavalier behavior,” holding him responsible for the downturn in diplomatic ties. ” Responsibility for damage that this cavalier behavior has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” MEA declared in a strongly worded statement.
India has consistently rejected accusations as “absurd” and maintains that the main issue lies in Canada’s failure to act against pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil.
Diplomatic Fallout
Earlier this week, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheelers and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert. India also recalled its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, and several or diplomats. In response, Canada ordered six Indian diplomats to leave the country. Se tit-for-tat expulsions underscore the serious deterioration of relations.
Diplomatic dispute has plunged bilateral relations to its lowest point in recent history, with trade discussions and or bilateral cooperation efforts now suspended.
India Rejects Canada’s Assertions
Official sources in New Delhi rejected any attempts to link Indian diplomats to criminal activities in Canada. Speaking to the media, Indian officials also refuted Canada’s claim that it had shared evidence regarding Nijjar’s assassination. ” Assertion that evidence was shared is simply not true,” sources said, reaffirming India’s demand for Canada to act against pro-Khalistan activities on its soil.
Modi government has long criticized Canada for allowing anti-India elements to operate freely within its borders, accusing Ottawa of turning a blind eye to extremist groups that seek to promote the cause of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland.
Escalating Crisis
This week’s developments furr escalate what has already become a diplomatic crisis between two nations. Initial allegations, which Trudeau raised in September last year, sparked outrage in New Delhi. Since then, both countries have expelled multiple diplomats, and tensions have continued to simmer.
As Trudeau doubles down on his accusations and India remains firm in its rejection of allegations, it remains unclear how or when strained relations between the two countries might improve. Both sides have so far shown little inclination to back down, and the diplomatic impasse continues to deepen.
The crisis also raises broader questions about the future of Canada-India ties, particularly given the large Indian diaspora in Canada, many of whom have close links to Punjab and are influential in Canadian politics.
Nijjar’s Killing and Its Impact
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India in 2020, was a prominent figure in the Khalistani movement. His assassination has become the focal point of a larger political and diplomatic dispute, which now threatens to unravel years of engagement between India and Canada.
India has maintained that Nijjar was a dangerous terrorist with links to violent extremist organizations, while many in Canada’s Sikh community viewed him as a political activist campaigning for Sikh rights.
As both nations navigate this crisis, the killing of Najjar remains a potent symbol of deep ideological and political divides that now further complicate Canada-India relations.
