In an expected diplomatic move, Canada expelled New Delhi’s head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)— India’s foreign intelligence agency—stationed in Ottawa accusing India’s involvement in the killing of a Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2022.
The already strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, took a dramatic new low.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed an emergency session of the parliamentary opposition that his government had credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in June in British Columbia.
He called in the strongest possible terms for the Indian government to cooperate in clearing up the matter.
Trudeau said: “Canadian security agencies have spent the last several weeks actively pursuing credible allegations” that agents of the government of India were responsible for Nijjar’s death. I also raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent G20 meetings personally and directly.”
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. Canada declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government last week at the G20. I brought them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
“Canada is a rule of law country. The protection of our citizens and defence of our sovereignty are fundamental.”
Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said the Trudeau government had taken immediate action. She said: “Today we have expelled a senior Indian diplomat from Canada.”
Nijjar was shot dead on June 18 in Surrey—a suburb of Vancouver that is home to a major Sikh community.
