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India Stands Firm Against Canada’s Assassination Allegations Amid Contrasting Response to US Claims
India has rejected Canada's allegations of involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling them "preposterous." This defiant stance contrasts sharply with India's compliance towards the US regarding an alleged assassination plot. What’s the impact on diplomatic relations?
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-17
India Stands Firm Against Canada’s Assassination Allegations Amid Contrasting Response to US Claims

New Delhi has taken a firm stance against Canada’s allegations of involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a naturalized Canadian citizen murdered outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver in June 2023. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has claimed that India arranged Nijjar's killing, stating there are "clear indications that India had violated Canada’s sovereignty."

In response, India has labeled the allegations "preposterous." Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal asserted that Canada has provided no evidence to support its serious claims, emphasizing that the responsibility for the deterioration in India-Canada relations rests with Prime Minister Trudeau.

Nijjar, who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen in 2015, advocated for a separate Sikh state known as Khalistan and was wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. Four Indian nationals have been arrested in connection with his murder.

This diplomatic row has escalated, with both nations expelling each other's diplomats. Canada’s top envoy to India, Stewart Wheeler, is set to leave by Saturday night and has stated that Ottawa possesses "credible, irrefutable evidence" linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's murder. However, India's foreign ministry has rejected these claims, stating that no evidence has been presented.

In contrast, India's response to allegations from the United States regarding an assassination plot on US soil has been markedly different. The US State Department announced that India informed them an intelligence operative implicated in the plot is no longer in government service. The US prosecutors had previously charged an Indian citizen over a foiled attempt in New York to kill an advocate for a separate Sikh homeland.

Reports indicate that the implicated Indian government employee has been removed and arrested on local charges, although the State Department has not confirmed this. As diplomatic tensions rise between India and Canada, the situation raises concerns about the broader implications for international relations.
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Diplomacy

IndiaCanadaRelations

HardeepSinghNijjar
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