By tf-lawyer.com On October 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and subsequently expelled six Indian diplomats from Canada. This move comes in response to India’s own decision to expel six Canadian diplomats, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Last year, Trudeau had already accused Indian agents of being involved in Nijjar’s murder and claimed to possess evidence supporting these allegations. During a press conference on the 14th, Trudeau stated that the Canadian government now has “clear and credible evidence” indicating that agents of the Indian government have engaged in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety in Canada.
According to Reuters, Trudeau disclosed that these activities involve clandestine information gathering and intimidation, specifically targeting South Asian Canadians, and have been linked to multiple threats and violent incidents, including murder. He emphasized that such behavior is “unacceptable.”
India has consistently denied Trudeau’s claims, with Indian officials rejecting Canada’s investigative efforts and accusing Trudeau of politicizing the issue.
The New York Times reported that Trudeau mentioned he had discussed the investigation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while attending the East Asia Summit in Laos the previous week. Prior to that, national security officials from both countries had met in Singapore to address the matter.
“I made it very clear to Modi that this is something he needs to take seriously,” Trudeau said, noting that the one-on-one discussion between the two leaders did not yield the desired outcomes, ultimately leading to the diplomatic expulsions.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India, while Indian Sikhs predominantly reside in the northwestern state of Punjab. The Indian government claims that certain Sikh individuals in Canada are actively involved in a separatist movement aimed at establishing a Sikh nation called Khalistan, seeking to break away from India.
