Curated By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Last Updated: September 19, 2023, 14:16 IST
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
The White House expressed deep concern over allegations made by Canadian PM Trudeau against India over the death of Khalistani separatist-terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (Image: Reuters/Representative)
The White House said it is deeply concerned about the allegations made by Canadian PM Trudeau regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson on Monday (local time) said the US is deeply concerned about the allegations levelled against India by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Canadian House of Commons that India played a role in the killing of Khalistani separatist leader and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” the Canadian Prime Minister claimed.
“We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” Watson further added.
The external affairs ministry (MEA) of India on Tuesday said the allegations were ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’ and told the Canadian government to take steps to neutralise anti-Indian elements operating from Canadian soil.
“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the external affairs ministry said.
The Canadian government then expelled a senior Indian diplomat hours after Trudeau made the allegations.
India also expelled the Canadian high commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay, on Tuesday. The MEA said that the decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.
A person familiar with the developments said the Canadian diplomat was identifying targets and workers for top gangsters sitting in Canada.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had declared him absconding.
Nijjar was shot dead by unknown assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.
