India’s high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma in a sharp reply to Canadian allegations over death of pro-Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar said that “India has already been convicted in the case before the investigation”.
“There are two points. One is that even before the investigation being completed, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?” Verma said while responding to a question on India's cooperation in the investigation during an interview with CTV News Channel.
He also urged the Canadian authorities to provide “specific and relevant” evidence in regards to the allegations levelled by Justin Trudeau that Indian government "agents" allegedly were involved in the murder of Nijjar.
“Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, which means you are already convicted and you better cooperate. We took it in very different interpretations, but we always said that if there is anything specific and relevant and communicated to us, we will look into it,” the high commissioner said while elaborating his views.
Denying role of India in the case, the official said that the investigation in the case by the Canadian Police has been damaged by Trudeau’s public statements.
“Where is the evidence? Where is the conclusion of the investigation? I would go a step further and say now the investigation has already been tainted. A direction has come from someone at a high level to say India or Indian agents are behind it,” Verma stated.
He further said that conversations between diplomats were protected and cannot be used as evidence in the court or be released publicly.
Verma also urged Canada not to allow any group of citizens who want to dismember India, challenge its sovereignty and territorial integrity to use Canadian soil.
Diplomatic Row Between India and Canada Over Trudeau's Allegations
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September this year had said in the House of Commons that “there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June”. This charge has triggered a major diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa.
Since then, the diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been strained, with diplomats expelled from both sides and India suspending visa services to Canada. However, the visa services have been resumed recently.