Hardeep Nijjar killing row: 'Not trying to provoke India, but...', says Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Sep 19, 2023, 8:54 PM IST"Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder of a Khalistani terrorist but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Tuesday that the nation does not seek to provoke India by suggesting its agents were involved in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist. Instead, he emphasized the importance of New Delhi addressing the issue appropriately. He said, "Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly."
Trudeau assured reporters, "The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate."
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Responding to the allegations made by Canada, India dismissed the Canadian government's accusations as absurd earlier today. Following the diplomatic tension, India took reciprocal action by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat. This unnamed diplomat has been given five days to leave the country.
Prime Minister Trudeau had previously asserted that his government had "credible allegations" linking the June killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to "agents of the Government of India." The Indian government, however, rejected this allegation as "absurd and motivated."
Justin Trudeau believes that Indian agents killed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada
Khalistani terrorist Nijjar was involved in targeted killings in India. He was shot dead by unidentified men in June
Now, Canadian PM is running Khalistan Movement pic.twitter.com/uEZEEliFw8
This ongoing spat has cast a shadow over diplomatic ties between the two nations, primarily due to New Delhi's concerns about Sikh separatist activities in Canada. Furthermore, it threatens trade relations, with discussions on a proposed trade deal having been put on hold just last week.
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