TORONTO — Canada is investigating doable hyperlinks between the Indian authorities and the assassination of a Canadian citizen in Canada who was an activist on behalf of an impartial Sikh homeland in India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Monday.
Trudeau stated in Parliament that Canadian intelligence businesses have been wanting into the allegations after Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a robust supporter of an impartial Sikh homeland referred to as Khalistan, was gunned down on June 18 outdoors a Sikh cultural middle in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau advised Parliament that he introduced up the slaying with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the G-20 final week, that he advised Modi that any Indian authorities involvement could be unacceptable and that he requested for cooperation within the investigation.
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa didn’t instantly reply cellphone calls from The Related Press searching for remark.
“Over the previous variety of weeks Canadian safety businesses have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a possible hyperlink between brokers of the federal government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau stated.
Trudeau stated Canada has declared its deep issues to the Indian authorities.
“Final week on the G-20 I introduced them personally and on to Prime Minister Modi in no unsure phrases,” Trudeau stated. “Any involvement of a overseas authorities within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Trudeau stated his authorities has been working carefully and coordinating with Canada’s allies on the case.
“Within the strongest doable phrases I proceed to induce the federal government of India to cooperate with Canada to unravel this matter,” he stated.
Trudeau stated he is aware of there are some members of the Indo-Canadian neighborhood who really feel indignant or frightened, and he referred to as for calm.
Opposition Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre stated if the allegations are true they symbolize ”an outrageous affront to our sovereignty.”
The Khalistan motion is banned in India, the place officers see it and affiliated teams as a nationwide safety risk. However the motion nonetheless has some assist in northern India, in addition to past, in nations like Canada and the UK that are residence to a large Sikh diaspora.
