Justin Trudeau said on April 28 that the killing of Nijjar last year was a “real problem” for the rules-based order and Canada’s relations with India
India on Thursday rejected fresh assertions by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying his remarks reflect the political space given in Canada to separatism and extremism.
Trudeau said at an interaction with the media on the margins of the Khalsa Day Parade in Toronto on April 28 that the killing of Nijjar last year was a “real problem” for the rules-based order and Canada’s relations with India.
Asked about the allegations at a regular media briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Prime Minister Trudeau has made those remarks earlier as well, it’s nothing new. His remarks, to us, illustrate once again the kind of political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and people who practice violence.”
He added, “This not only impacts India-Canada relations but also encourages a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its citizens.”
On Monday, the external affairs ministry summoned Canada’s deputy high commissioner Stewart Wheeler to register a strong protest against the shouting of pro-Khalistan slogans in the presence of Trudeau and other political leaders at the Khalsa Day Parade.
The event had banners in support of Khalistan and depicting India’s leaders as the “killers” of Nijjar, who had been declared a terrorist by New Delhi.
India-Canada relations hit an all-time low last September after Trudeau alleged there was a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023.
