India says Canada has disclosed no evidence to back its allegations of India’s involvement in the killing of the Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Signh Nijjar in Canada last year.
According to the LA Times, three Indian nationals living in Canada were arrested on Tuesday for the slaying of Nijjar last June. At the time, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in this crime.
“Let me first make it clear that no specific or relevant evidence or information has been shared by the Canadian authorities till date,” said India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal. “You will therefore understand our view that the matter is being pre-judged. Obviously, there are political interests at work. We have long maintained that separatists, extremists and those advocating violence have been given political space in Canada,” Jaiswal told the Hindu.
The spokesperson hinted at the possibility of involvement of gangs in the killing of Nijjar.
Jaiswal also accused Canada of providing refuge for those advocating for violence against India, reported Fox News. Additionally, Jaiswal claimed that people associated with organized crime in India were allowed entry and residency in Canada.
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“Our diplomats have been threatened with impunity and obstructed in their performance of duties,” Jaiswal said. “We are having discussions at the diplomatic level on all these matters,” he added.
The Indian government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has rejected the claims by Trudeau, as reported by the New York Times. Since last June, India has expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in India and suspended visa applications by Canadian nationals.
Last week, Canada arrested Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28 for Nijjar’s murder case that has since implicated the diplomatic relationship between India and Canada, according to the Hindu. They have been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit the crime.
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