Canada’s Sikh separatist killing allegations not part of probe into similar US accusations, says govt

India has said that Canada hasn’t provided specific evidence of New Delhi’s alleged involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the issue is not part of the investigations by panel set up to examine similar accusations made by the US, according to a report. New Delhi set up an investigating committee last week in response to allegations by the US that an Indian government agent was involved in a foiled assassination attempt on a Sikh separatist leader in New York. However, Canada’s accusations that India orchestrated the murder of Nijjar on Canadian soil in June are not under the panel’s scrutiny, Bloomberg quoted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as saying in Parliament on Thursday. He noted that Canada has not provided any “evidence or inputs,” emphasising the lack of equitable treatment in the two cases, added the report. The strained relationship between India and Canada has intensified due to the killing in Canada, while the US charges have created a delicate situation for the Biden administration, which aims to strengthen ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as a counterbalance to China. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Nijjar, a claim dismissed by India as “absurd.” Canadian officials had shared evidence with New Delhi, including communications and phone numbers, before Trudeau went public with the allegations, people familiar with the matter have previously said. Last week, US prosecutors revealed allegations of India’s campaign to target Sikh activists abroad, linking it to a foiled murder plot. Although the intended victim was not identified, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual American and Canadian citizen associated with Sikhs for Justice, claimed he was the target. Pannun had ties to Nijjar. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India had expressed concerns to the US and Canada after a Sikh separatist leader in America threatened to attack India’s Parliament. As both the US and India downplay the foiled murder attempt amid the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen ties, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer visited New Delhi, and Christopher Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is expected to visit India next week, according to the US ambassador in the country. With inputs from agencies