Canada Fails to Provide Details on Nijjar Killing Case: Indian High Commissioner

Canada has failed to back up its claim that India was behind the murder of a Sikh separatist militant with evidence, New Delhi's ambassador says

High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said Ottawa has not provided “any specific and relevant information” for an investigation into Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that an Indian intelligence agency was involved in the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“There are existing channels of communication between the two countries to share information in such incidents," Verma stressed. "We have not been shared with any specific and relevant information by the Canadian authorities so far, for us to look into.”

Four Indian nationals accused of killing Nijjar have not sought legal assistance or consular access from the Indian government, he told reporters

“It is our understanding that they already have Canadian lawyers, defending them in the court of law in the Canadian province of British Columbia,” he stated.

Verma's comments came amid escalating tensions between India and Canada as the one-year anniversary of Nijjar’s death approaches.

Nijjar, a Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara — a Sikh temple — in British Columbia on June 30 2023.

“We have not received any request for consular access from any of the arrested and charged Indian national," Verma said. "If and when such requests are made, we shall reach out to the Canadian authorities for necessary permission for the consular access.”

“Canadian laws permit consular access/sharing of information regarding incarcerated foreign nationals only upon written consent from the concerned foreigners,” he noted.

Nijjar’s killing last year sparked a diplomatic incident, with Canada accusing Indian government officials of involvement in the crime.

Canadian authorities arrested three Indian nationals last month on charges of murder and conspiracy. A fourth Indian citizen, already detained for unrelated firearms offenses, was subsequently arrested.

Government of India: No Approach from Canadian Authorities Regarding Allegations

Last month, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly reiterated Ottawa's accusations that Nijjar, designated as a terrorist in India, was assassinated by Indian operatives.

It has been nearly nine months since Trudeau initially informed the Canadian Parliament of ongoing investigations into the "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to Nijjar's murder.

In a separate incident, US authorities are probing the possible involvement of Indian agents in a thwarted plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

“The Canadian authorities have not approached us with any such allegations and the related evidence," Verma pointed out. "We have taken note of reports in the Canadian media, discussions in the Canadian Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference into national elections conducted in 2019 and 2021 and democratic institutions and similar discussions in the Canadian Parliament.”

"It is not the policy of the Government of India to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries."

Earlier this week, a Canadian parliamentary report identified India as the second-most substantial foreign interference risk to the nation. The report accused New Delhi of providing financial support to political parties in Canada and building connections with parliament members in return for sensitive information.

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