The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sharply criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent testimony before a Commission of Inquiry. Trudeau admitted that his government has not provided “hard evidentiary proof” to support allegations.
In response, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Trudeau’s comments reinforce India’s long-held position. “Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats,” he said.
Jaiswal also placed the responsibility for the damage to India-Canada relations squarely on Trudeau. “The damage caused by this cavalier behaviour lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” he asserted.
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Trudeau’s testimony revealed the complexity of the ongoing diplomatic spat. He noted that India has been insisting on concrete evidence related to the allegations but that his government has only been able to provide intelligence. “Our response was it is within your security agency… At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof,” he explained.
Tensions between the two countries escalated last year when Trudeau alleged in Parliament that there were “credible allegations” implicating India in Nijjar’s killing. India has categorically denied these allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.” It has accused Canada of harboring extremist elements.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023. He was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020. The situation intensified when Canada labeled India’s High Commissioner and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the investigation.
In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday. This action followed a meeting where India summoned Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler. The Indian government condemned the “baseless targeting” of its diplomats as unacceptable.
The MEA had previously warned that Trudeau’s government was endangering the safety of Indian officials amid a climate of extremism and violence. India has since decided to withdraw its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and other affected diplomats.
In conclusion, India reserves the right to take against what it views as Canada’s support for extremism against it.
