New Delhi:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said – amid escalating tensions with India – that he is not looking to “provoke” India or “escalate” tensions, but that he wants New Delhi to investigate the murder of a Sikh separatist ‘with the utmost seriousness’.
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Justin Trudeau had previously alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place in June. Eyebrows had been raised and the US had said it was “deeply concerned” by the allegations.
“We are not looking for provocation or escalation,” Justin Trudeau told reporters today. “We want to work with the Indian government to clarify everything and ensure good processes are in place.”
On Monday, Justin Trudeau said in a speech to the House of Commons that Canada’s security services have been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a possible link between agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.”
India has rejected Trudeau’s claims. “Allegations about the Indian government’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the State Department said. “Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected,” the report said.
The matter escalated and in the past two days Canada and India each expelled a senior diplomat from the other country. Yesterday, the unnamed Canadian diplomat was asked to leave India within five days.
The escalation comes shortly after the issue was discussed between Mr Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the recently held G20 in India.
The State Department said at the time that Prime Minister Modi had made it clear that extremist elements in Canada were “promoting separatism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats… threatening the Indian community and their places of worship.”
Canada will always “defend freedom of expression, conscience and peaceful protest,” Trudeau had said. But it will also prevent violence and reduce hatred, he had told reporters.
Canada has been one of the favorite draws of expat Sikhs, where extremism has increased on the fringes and made headlines in recent months, eroding bilateral ties. Trade negotiations with Canada have been derailed.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, head of the outlawed Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists, was shot dead by two unknown gunmen on June 18. He was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia. .
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