Trudeau accuses India of role in killing of Canadian Sikh leader
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says national security agencies are investigating “credible allegations” that the “agents of the government of India” were involved in the killing of prominent Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C. in June.
“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said, addressing the House of Commons about an “extremely serious matter,” after informing the opposition party leaders.
The prime minister said he’s urging the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in the investigation into Nijjar’s death and said he expects India to “reiterate that its position on extra-judicial operations in another country is clearly and unequivocally in line with international law.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly also announced that Canada has expelled a “key Indian diplomat.” She did not name the diplomat, only stating that this person was the head of the Canadian operations for the Research and Analysis Wing — India’s foreign intelligence agency.
Joly added that Canada “expects India to fully collaborate with us and ultimately to get to the bottom of this.” She also said she plans to raise this issue during an evening meeting with the G7 foreign ministers in New York on Monday.
Nijjar, who was the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, had been a long-time advocate of the Khalistan movement, which calls for an independent homeland for Sikhs in India’s Punjab region. The Sikh leader was gunned out outside the temple in Surrey, B.C., on June 18.
Nijjar’s death had sparked protests from the Sikh community across Canada, many accusing the Indian government of orchestrating the killing and even going as far as holding posters that refer to Indian diplomats as “killers.”
Last week, Trudeau was in India attending the G20, where there were signs of diplomatic tensions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trudeau told the House he “personally and directly” brought up allegations to Modi when they met. Modi’s office, meanwhile, said India has “strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.”
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said.
Relations between Canada and India have been strained for some time, and late last week with little explanation federal Trade Minister Mary Ng postponed a trade mission to India that was slated to take place this fall.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed calls for the Indian government to cooperate with Canadian investigators and offered his condolences to the family of Nijjar.
“If these allegations are true, they represent an outrageous affront to Canada, to Canada’s sovereignty,” he told the House. “Our citizens must be safe from extrajudicial killings of all kinds, most of all from foreign governments.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the “shocking” news will have “deep and devastating impacts to Canadians.”
“I want to also begin by acknowledging the family of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the family who’s now learning that the loss of their loved one was potentially directly related to Indian government involvement. I spoke with Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s son and I could hear the pain of that loss in his voice, and I can only imagine how much more painful it is going to be, knowing this potential connection,” he said in an emotional speech in the House, during which he briefly spoke in Punjabi.
Singh said growing up Sikh he heard stories of what could happen if you raise concerns about human rights violations in India, such as getting denied a visa or facing violence if you went back. Singh himself was denied a visa to India in 2013, which he says was due to his Sikh advocacy and criticism of India’s human rights record.
“Governments around the world are trying to silence you. The Indian government and the Modi government, specifically, is attempting to silence you. But truth cannot be silenced. Justice cannot and will not be silenced,” he said.
CTV News has reached out to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, but has not received the response as of Monday evening. The Indian government has not publicly commented on the killing of Nijjar.
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE INQUIRY UNDERWAY
This news also comes as the federal government has launched a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada, after a series of allegations earlier this year over alleged Chinese meddling in Canadian democracy. The commissioner of this new inquiry has been instructed to look beyond China, to include other foreign states and non-state actors, and Singh is now calling for this specific situation to come under scrutiny as part of this probe.
“We need to know the truth. We need to know all potential links, and anyone and everyone responsible should be brought to justice using the full power of a democratic nation,” the NDP leader said.
In June, Jody Thomas, Trudeau’s national security advisor, stated that India is among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada, alongside authoritarian countries like China, Russia and Iran.
Monday also marks the first day on the job for Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, who begins her work as the commissioner leading the public inquiry. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters in Ottawa the issue of foreign interference was never “the unique purview of one country.”
“We assume that (Hogue) and the security agencies will do what’s necessary for her inquiry to also look at the ways that India interferes in Canada. It was always contemplated in the terms of reference,” LeBlanc said.
SIKH LEADERS REACT
Outside of India, Canada is home to the largest Sikh community in the world. Leaders in the Sikh community in Canada say they’re glad to hear the Canadian government corroborate something that they’ve suspected, but want to see further action in holding India to account.
Sikhs for Justice, a U.S.-based pro-Khalistan group, described the killing of Nijjar as “act of terrorism” and called on Canada to expel Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma.
Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, just 100 feet away from where Nijjar died, B.C. Gurdwaras Council spokesperson Moninder Singh said the announcement from the prime minister brought about “mixed emotions.”
“If Canada is actually declaring that India is an actual actor in this, I think that’s the first step towards acknowledging and first step towards justice. But until we actually see people behind bars … I think there’s kind of skepticism right now that something’s actually going to happen.”
On top of a public inquiry on interference, Moninder Singh says he also wants to see an end to the intelligence sharing agreements between Canada and India. In 2018, during Trudeau’s previous trip to India, Canada and India signed a cooperation framework on terrorism and violent extremism, which introduced “institutionalized cooperation” between Canadian and Indian intelligence agencies.
“Those intelligence sharing agreements, to us, have always been problematic. They’ve always placed Sikh activists at risk. We don’t know what type of information is being shared. We don’t know what type of monitoring goes on social media. All of those things are very risky to us,” Moninder Singh said.
Moninder Singh says community leaders are planning protests outside the Indian High Commission and consulates across Canada on Sept. 25.
With files from CTV News Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello
View original article here Source
Weiman Jewelry Cleaner Liquid with Polishing Cloth Included – Restores Shine and Brilliance to Gold, Diamond, Platinum Jewelry and Precious Stones – 6 Ounce - Not Intended for Silver…
$14.99 (as of September 25, 2023 14:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Mini Boots for Women,Classic Mini Short Ankle Boot Fur Lined,Warm Fur Lined Winter Snow Warm Slip on Anti-Slip Boots
$31.86 (as of September 25, 2023 14:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
NIVEA MEN Active Clean Body Wash | 3-in-1 Men Shower Gel (Body, Face & Hair), 3x500mL
$30.44 (as of September 25, 2023 14:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls), HD streaming device
$59.99 (as of September 25, 2023 14:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)