Canada said on Monday that it has credible information linking Indian government agents to the killing of a Sikh leader in the province of British Columbia in June, and said it had expelled a high-ranking Indian official who worked for the intelligence services, News.ro reports. citing Reuters.
Justin TrudeauPhoto: Canadian Press / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil was “an unacceptable violation of sovereignty.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Nijjar supported a Sikh region in the form of an independent state, Khalistani, and was categorized by India as a “terrorist”.
“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a possible link between agents of the Indian government and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said in an emergency statement to parliament.
“Canada has expressed its deep concern to the highest intelligence and security officials of the Indian government. Last week, at the G20, I communicated them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi, in very clear terms,” said Trudeau.
For her part, the foreign minister, Melanie Joly, told reporters that Ottawa had expelled the head of the Indian intelligence services from Canada, but did not give any other details.
Last week, New Delhi said Modi conveyed to Trudeau his strong concerns about Canada’s protests against India.
Canada has the largest Sikh population outside the home state of Punjab in India, and the country has been the site of many protests that have angered India.
