India hits back as Canadian Foreign Minister Joly hints that sanctions against India are a possibility; Trudeau says Canada has shared all the information with its Five Eyes partners…reports Asian Lite News
The diplomatic row between Canada and India has taken a turn for the worse, with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly hinting that sanctions against India are a possibility. When asked about potential sanctions, Joly said, “Everything is on the table.” This comes after Indian accusations that Canada is harboring Khalistani terrorists.
Canadian Foreign Minister Joly said that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had gathered evidence in the India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case, which was the basis for the decision to expel Indian diplomats. The Indian government was urged to support the ongoing investigation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Taking to X, Joly said, “Keeping Canadians safe is our government’s top priority. The decision to expel individuals was based on clear evidence gathered by the RCMP in the Nijjar case. We urge the Indian government to support our ongoing investigation for the benefit of both countries.” She made the statement in response to a post shared by Canada’s Foreign Policy page on X.
India hits back
However, India rubbished all allegations of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that New Delhi had hired the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target Khalistani elements on its soil. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said all options were on the table, including announcing sanctions. It’s the same old Trudeau saying the same old things for the same old reasons, official sources remarked. Both India and Canada expelled six diplomats each as part of their punitive action the previous day.
But one person who might have found it difficult to conceal a chuckle was Lawrence Bishnoi, 31, who is in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail. By alleging that he was hired to harm the Khalistanis, Canada elevated him to the level of the once dreaded gangster Chhota Rajan, who was cultivated by India to neutralise Dawood Ibrahim some decades ago. Bishnoi’s name was recently linked to the supari murder of senior NCP leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai.
“India made a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians on Canadian soil, whether it was the murders or extortion or other violent acts,’’ claimed Trudeau.
Bilateral diplomatic ties dived following the gunning down of Khalistani radical Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year. Rebutting the charges, official sources said, “From the very beginning, the Canadian approach has been to make vague accusations and put the burden of denial on India.”
Trudeau working with ‘Five Eyes’
Canada has shared all the information it possesses regarding allegations of Indian officials’ involvement in the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year with its Five Eyes partners, particularly the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“From the beginning, as of last summer, we have worked closely with our Five Eyes partners, particularly with the United States, where they have gone through a similar pattern of behaviour from India in regards to an attempted extrajudicial killing,” Justin Trudeau told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa.
“We will continue to work with our allies as we stand up together for the rule of law,” the Canadian PM said. During the press conference, Justin Trudeau said the situation is extremely undesirable.
“Not only do we not want Canadians to be subjected to violence in their communities, in their homes, but we also do not want to have these tensions in relations with India,” he said.
“That is why last week, we approached the Government of India through our security agencies, diplomats and police agencies, to look for a way to resolve this deep difference…. to protect Canadians… but not to come and destroy the good relations or the relations between India and Canada,” Trudeau said.
US urges India to “cooperate”
Terming Canada’s allegations “extremely serious,” US has asked India to “cooperate” with Ottawa’s investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“We have made clear that the Canadian allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously and we wanted to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada and its investigation. But, India has chosen an alternate path…,” US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
He emphasised the need for cooperation between the two countries, stating, “I do not have any further comment beyond what the two countries have said publicly. We have urged them to cooperate and will continue to urge them to do so.”
When questioned about the status of these allegations, Miller responded, “I will defer to those two countries to speak to the relevant status of the matter.” However, Miller reassured that the US-India bilateral relationship remain strong, citing multiple areas of collaboration. (ANI)
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