Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is “very serious” about relations with India, a growing economic power and key player in the region, but wants New Delhi to work with Ottawa to ensure they get the full facts about the Indian genocide.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, The conflict between India and Canada escalated after Mr Trudeau claimed Indian authorities “probably” intervened in the June 18 killing of Khalistan terrorists Nijjar in British Columbia.
India classified Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India reacted angrily to the “appalling” and “heartbreaking” accusations and expelled a top Canadian diplomat in protest at Ottawa’s deportation of the Indian lead in the case.
Mr. Trudeau said despite âcredible allegationsâ against India, Canada is committed to building closer ties with it, The National Post newspaper reported.
Speaking at a press conference in Montreal, Mr. Trudeau said that he thinks it is âextremely importantâ that Canada and its allies continue to engage âconstructively and seriouslyâ with India given its growing importance on the world stage.
âIndia is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, weâre very serious about building closer ties with India,â he told reporters.
âAt the same time, obviously, as a rule of law country, we need to emphasize that India needs to work with Canada to ensure that we get the full facts of this matter,” the paper quoted him as saying.
âAssurance from U.S.â
Mr. Trudeau said he got assurances from the United States that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would be raising the allegations made publicly about Indiaâs role in Nijjarâs murder during a meeting with his Indian counterpart in Washington on Thursday.
However, the US State Department in its readout on the meeting between Blinken and Jaishankar did not say whether the two leaders discussed the India-Canada diplomatic standoff.
âThe Americans have been with us in speaking to the Indian government about how important it is that they be involved in following up on the credible allegations that agents of the Indian government killed a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,â said Mr. Trudeau.
This is something that all democratic countries, all countries that respect the rule of law need to take seriously, he said.
“We are moving forward in a thoughtful, responsible way anchored in the rule of law with all of our partners including in our approach to the Government of India,â he added.Mr. Trudeau first spoke publicly about the allegations in the House of Commons on September 18.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre demanded that Mr. Trudeau release more information about the allegations. But the New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who has his security clearances and received an intelligence briefing on the matter, came to the same conclusion as Mr. Trudeau.
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