 "Canadian report finds 'no definitive link' of India's role in Nijjar killing, contradicting Trudeau's claims")
A Canadian commission report has concluded that there is “no definitive link” to a “foreign state” in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, contradicting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims of Indian agents’ involvement.
In September 2023, Trudeau said that Canada had credible evidence indicating that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s murder in British Columbia in June 2023.
The report, titled ‘Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions,’ was released on Tuesday.
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said in the report that “disinformation is used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a state’s interests,” suggesting that India may have engaged in disinformation regarding Nijjar’s killing.
“This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),” PTI quoted the report as saying.
Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
The 123-page report also addressed the expulsion of six Indian diplomats.
“In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India,” the report said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the withdrawal of its high commissioner.
The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.
New Delhi had rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”.
India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau’s government for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement who live in Canada. The Khalistan movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
On Tuesday, India strongly rejected “insinuations” made against it in the report by a Canadian commission that investigated allegations that certain foreign governments were meddling in Canada’s elections.
In a strong reaction, the MEA in New Delhi said it rejects the report’s “insinuations” on India.
It is in fact Canada which has been “consistently interfering” in India’s internal affairs, it said.
With inputs from agencies
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