India has condemned the “absurd” and “motivated” accusations that associate it with the assassination of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian national Hardeep Singh Nijjar, highlighting the deterioration of relations between India and Canada amidst discussions on trade and the involvement of the Bishnoi gang.
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have further deteriorated this week following allegations from Canadian federal police that “agents” from Delhi are collaborating with organized crime groups, including the Bishnoi gang, which is associated with the recent murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. These agents are purportedly targeting the South Asian community, particularly individuals supportive of Khalistani movements within Canada.
These allegations came after both nations expelled six diplomats, including prominent figures such as Canada’s acting High Commissioner, Stewart Wheeler, and India’s High Commissioner, Sanjay Verma. In response, India stated that it was withdrawing its personnel due to security concerns.
India firmly rejected Canada’s assertions regarding its expelled diplomats being ‘persons of interest’ in alleged extortion and murder cases, denouncing the “absurd accusations” and the “political motives” of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration in light of the upcoming elections.
Subsequently, Mr. Trudeau conducted a press conference following the police’s allegations, where he endorsed the claims made by law enforcement and condemned what he described as “a fundamental error” on India’s part, suggesting that India believes it can “engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil.”
Mr. Trudeau stated, “Acts of murder, extortion, and other forms of violence are entirely intolerable.” He further asserted that his government had communicated its concerns to Delhi. According to him, Canadian law enforcement had engaged with officials from the Indian government but received no cooperation. The accusation that “agents of the Indian government” are collaborating with organized crime leaders to target Canadian nationals marks a significant intensification of the diplomatic conflict between the two nations. This dispute began in September of the previous year when Mr. Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.