TORONTO (AP) — Canada mentioned it expelled a senior Indian diplomat on Monday as a part of an investigation into what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to as credible allegations that the Indian authorities could have had hyperlinks to the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.
Trudeau mentioned in Parliament that Canadian intelligence companies had been investigating the allegations after Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nigar, a staunch supporter of an impartial Sikh homeland generally known as Khalistan, was shot useless on June 18 outdoors a Sikh cultural, middle in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau advised Parliament that he raised the homicide concern with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the G20 summit final week, and that he advised Modi that any involvement of the Indian authorities can be unacceptable, and that he requested cooperation within the investigation.
Canadian Overseas Minister Melanie Jolie mentioned the Indian intelligence chief in Canada was fired because of this. “If this proves true, it is going to be a significant violation of our sovereignty and the essential rule of how international locations cope with one another,” Jolie mentioned. In consequence, we expelled a senior Indian diplomat.”
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa didn’t instantly return cellphone calls from The Related Press searching for remark.
“Over the previous few weeks, Canadian safety companies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential hyperlink between Indian authorities brokers and the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nigar,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trudeau mentioned Canada has expressed its deep issues to the Indian authorities.
“Final week in the course of the G20 summit, I offered these issues personally and on to Prime Minister Modi in no unsure phrases,” Trudeau mentioned. He added: “Any overseas authorities involvement within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Trudeau mentioned his authorities is working carefully and coordinating with Canada’s allies on this concern.
“Within the strongest potential phrases, I proceed to induce the Authorities of India to cooperate with Canada to resolve this matter,” he mentioned.
Trudeau mentioned he is aware of that there are some members of the Indian-Canadian neighborhood who really feel offended or afraid, and referred to as for calm.
Opposition Conservative Celebration chief Pierre Poilievre mentioned that if these allegations had been true, they represented an “outrageous insult to our sovereignty.”
The Khalistan motion is banned in India, the place officers and affiliated teams think about it a menace to nationwide safety. However the motion nonetheless has some help in northern India, in addition to in different international locations comparable to Canada and the UK, that are dwelling to a big Sikh diaspora.
(Tags for translation)Canada
