The United States has called on India to cooperate with Canada’s investigation into “extremely serious allegations” linking “agents” of the Indian government with the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June last year.
At a press briefing in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US has made it clear that Canada’s allegations “need to be taken seriously.”
“When it comes to the Canadian case, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely serious. We would have wanted the Indian government to cooperate with Canada… Obviously they have not chosen that path,” Mr. Miller said in a statement. Said in response to the American reporter’s question on the ‘second round’ of the Delhi-Ottawa crisis.
The US, which has exercised restraint since the dispute erupted in September last year, maintained similar restraint on Tuesday, only stressing the need for cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Miller said, “I have no further comment other than what both countries have said publicly. We have urged them to cooperate and we will continue to urge them to do so.”
New Delhi has not yet reacted to these comments but has repeatedly rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”. Delhi has repeatedly sought evidence and said the allegations come as Mr Trudeau’s popularity rises ahead of next year’s general election.
Read | “Absurd allegation”: Trudeau protests, India strongly refutes
Meanwhile, Mr Miller also underlined the strength of India-US relations.
“India remains an incredibly strong partner. We have worked with them on a range of issues, including our shared vision for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and, when we have any concerns, “We can bring those concerns forward.” Talk to them more openly…” he said.
The India-Canada crisis, which has been going on for the last 18 months, erupted in September last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Delhi “agents” of being involved in Nijjar’s murder. He claimed that “credible information” was shared with intelligence partners, including the US.
However, India has said that it has not been presented with evidence to support the allegations.
The September allegation led to tensions that included a sharp reaction from the Indian side and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats.
Read | Nijjar murder, Bishnoi gang, trade talks: How India-Canada relations soured
Relations further soured this week when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said “agents” of the Indian government had targeted “organized criminal elements in (Canada’s) South Asian community… particularly pro-Khalistani elements”. , especially in collusion with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Read | “Bishnoi gang linked to Indian government agents”: Canadian police claim
Mr. Trudeau then held a press conference in which he supported the police allegations and criticized “a fundamental error” – that India thinks it is “engaging in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, on Canadian soil.” It is possible”.
“Whether it’s murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Mr. Trudeau said. He also claimed that his administration “shares our concerns” with Delhi.
Read | Charges against Trudeau doubled in India-Canada diplomatic dispute
He said Canadian police had spoken to Indian government officials but were rebuffed.
Claims by the Canadian Federal Police resulted in another round of expulsions of diplomats from both sides; This time Ottawa designated India’s High Commissioner, career diplomat Sanjay Kumar Verma, as a ‘person of interest’ in an ongoing criminal investigation and removed him.
An angry India retaliated by expelling Canada’s acting high commissioner, Stewart Wheeler, and five of his staff, and formally recalled Mr Verma and his staff over security concerns.
Nijjar – the mastermind of banned terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force – was on the list of Delhi’s ‘most wanted’ terrorists for several crimes including the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab. Anti-terrorism agency NIA had offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone providing information that helps arrest him.
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