US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti additionally described Trudeau’s allegations as “troubling” and underlined the significance of following ideas of worldwide legislation, sovereignty and non interference.
The US on Wednesday favoured a radical investigation into killing of a Khalistani separatist in Canada in June, two days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian authorities brokers within the case kicked up a significant diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa.
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti additionally described Trudeau’s allegations as “troubling” and underlined the significance of following ideas of worldwide legislation, sovereignty and non interference.
In his assertion within the House of Commons on Monday, Trudeau stated that “any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” India on Tuesday strongly rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat transfer to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian Khalistani separatist chief, was shot lifeless by two gunmen in Surrey on June 18.
“Obviously, any allegations like this should be troubling to anyone. But with an active criminal investigation, I hope that we can make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Garcetti stated.
“And that we all allow the space for that information and that investigation to occur before anybody leaps to judgment,” he stated.
The US ambassador was talking at an interactive session on the Ananta Centre, a number one think-tank on strategic affairs.
“To me, that’s the most important role I think each one of us can play. Sovereignty is a very important principle,” he stated whereas referring to feedback by the US National Security Council spokesperson in addition to the remarks by the State Department spokesperson.
“We’ve been in regular communication. I’m the son of a prosecutor. So, I know when there are criminal investigations it’s best to leave things at that until we have more information,” he stated.
Terming Trudeau’s allegations as “very serious”, US National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Washington supports Ottawa’s efforts to investigate the matter and encourages New Delhi to cooperate.
“We imagine a totally clear complete investigation is the suitable strategy in order that we are able to all know precisely what occurred and naturally, we encourage India to cooperate with that,” Kirby said in an interview to CNN.
Asked about his opinion on the case, Garcetti said he was not going to tell leaders of other countries what to do.
“But I believe it is incumbent on all of us to recollect the ideas of worldwide legislation, the ideas of sovereignty, and non-interference. And that may be heard each instructions however must be heard appropriately,” the envoy said.
“And it is one thing that we stand by for certain. America will not retreat ever from these values and that is why I believe it is crucial as we have stated, that this investigation be allowed to take its course,” he said.
Garcetti also highlighted the close ties between the US and Canada.
“We’re all the time in shut communication with Canada. Canada is an expensive pal, ally and companion and neighbour. Not simply in moments like this. But on a regular basis we communicate commonly. We share info,” he said.
Garcetti said the US-Canada relationship speaks for itself.
“Canada is an expensive pal, companion, ally. It is a buying and selling companion and occurs to be our northern neighbour. We care deeply for Canada simply as we care deeply for India and Indians,” he said.
Questioned about Khalistani protests in the US, the ambassador said those responsible should be held accountable and hoped that “conventional buddies and companions” could cooperate in getting to the bottom of this.
“We’re engaged on this — on the safety of Indian diplomats and taking critical investigations of incidents like what we noticed in San Francisco,” he stated.
Khalistani activists tried to burn down the Indian consulate in San Francisco on July 2.
