Justin Trudeau on Wednesday acknowledged that he had solely intelligence and no “hard evidentiary proof” when he alleged the involvement of Indian authorities brokers within the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar final yr.
As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified earlier than a Commission of Inquiry, the MEA on Thursday stated what it has heard solely “confirms” New Delhi’s constant stand that Canada has “presented us no evidence” in help of the intense allegations Ottawa selected to degree towards India and Indian diplomats.
Trudeau on Wednesday acknowledged that he had solely intelligence and no “hard evidentiary proof” when he alleged the involvement of Indian authorities brokers within the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar final yr.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a press release within the early hours of Thursday in response to media queries associated to Trudeau’s deposition, a few of whose particulars have been revealed in media experiences.
“What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a press release.
The ministry additional stated, “The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone.”
Testifying earlier than the general public inquiry into overseas interference in federal electoral processes and democratic establishments, Trudeau claimed the Indian diplomats have been amassing data on Canadians who’re in disagreement with the Narendra Modi authorities and passing it to the best ranges inside the Indian authorities and legal organisations just like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
India strongly rejected makes an attempt by the Canadian authorities to hyperlink Indian brokers with legal gangs in Canada with official sources in New Delhi even saying that Ottawa’s assertion that it shared proof with New Delhi within the Nijjar case was merely not true.
Sources in New Delhi additionally rejected Trudeau’s earlier allegations that India was partaking in actions, together with finishing up covert operations concentrating on Canadian nationals in his nation.
India earlier on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and in addition introduced withdrawing its excessive commissioner from Canada after dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Nijjar.
The escalation in diplomatic row between India and Canada is a significant downturn in already frosty ties between the 2 nations.
The relations between the 2 nations got here beneath extreme pressure following Trudeau’s allegations in September final yr of a “potential” involvement of Indian brokers in Nijjar’s killing.
New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s fees as “absurd”.
India has been sustaining that the primary problem between the 2 nations is that of Canada giving house to pro-Khalistan parts working from Canadian soil with impunity.
Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot useless exterior a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 final yr.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA workers and is printed from PTI)
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