The United States has expressed “deep concern” regarding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a “possible connection between Indian government agents and the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.”
According to a report from ABC NEWS, Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, issued a statement, stating, “We are deeply concerned about the allegations mentioned by Prime Minister Trudeau earlier today.”
The statement continued, “We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice.”
Following this startling accusation, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat in connection with the incident. Joly also mentioned that Trudeau had raised the issue with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
India has vehemently rejected the claims made by the Canadian government regarding its involvement in Nijjar’s killing. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a statement terming these allegations as “baseless and driven by ulterior motives.”
The statement read, “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated.”
“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” the statement emphasized.
Highlighting India’s commitment to the rule of law, the ministry urged the Canadian government to take swift and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating on its soil. The statement strongly stated, “The Canadian Government’s inaction on this matter has been a longstanding and ongoing concern.”
India’s response came in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s emergency statement in Parliament, where he disclosed that Canadian security agencies were actively pursuing “credible allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.”
Amid the worsening diplomatic relations between India and Canada, New Delhi took the step of expelling a senior Canadian diplomat based in India, who has been given five days to leave the country, citing concerns of interference. (with inputs from IANS)
