(Ottawa) India is believed to be behind the assassination of a leader of the Sikh community in British Columbia, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which constitutes an “unacceptable violation” of the country’s sovereignty, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
“In recent weeks, Canadian security agencies have actively investigated credible allegations that there is a possible link between agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” declared the Canadian Prime Minister in a statement in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
“Canada is a state of law. The protection of our citizens as well as the defense of our sovereignty are essential. Our priorities have therefore been, first, to ensure that our security and law enforcement agencies continuously ensure the safety of all Canadians and, second, that all necessary measures are taken to hold the perpetrators of this murder responsible for their actions,” he continued.
This announcement comes a few days after the Prime Minister’s trip to New Delhi, India, where the G20 summit was held. There, Justin Trudeau said he “personally addressed the issue in a very clear manner with Prime Minister Modi”.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The Canadian Prime Minister met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit.
“The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil constitutes an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. Such an act goes against the fundamental rules that govern free, open and democratic societies,” he denounced.
“I continue to urge and with the greatest firmness the Government of India to cooperate with Canada to clarify this matter,” added the Prime Minister, specifying that Ottawa is working on this “most serious” matter with its “main allies”.
Sikh temple leader accused of murder conspiracy and terrorism in India, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot and killed outside his temple in Surrey, British Columbia, last June. The commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment, Brian Edwards, described this attack as “disgusting”.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, announced after the Prime Minister’s statement that Canada will expel an Indian diplomat stationed in Canada as a protest. She did not give further details about the diplomat who will be invited to pack his bags. She also urged the Indian government to cooperate fully in any investigation aimed at shedding light on these events.
The High Commissioner of India to Canada, Shri Sanjay Kumar Verma, had not responded to the request The Press of comments at the time of writing these lines. In the past, the Indian government has denied any involvement in the matter. He also argued that the allegations are based on erroneous information provided by Canadians of Sikh origin who support the separatist Khalistan movement in India.
“Offence to Canadian sovereignty”
The Prime Minister’s solemn declaration caused a shock wave in the House of Commons on this day of the start of the parliamentary term.
A few minutes before speaking, Mr. Trudeau took care to inform his counterparts from the other parties of the nature of his announcement.
The leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, shared the feeling of anger of his political opponent at “such an affront to the sovereignty of Canada”.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre
“Our citizens must be safe from extrajudicial killings of all kinds, especially at the hands of foreign governments,” he insisted.
“Canadians deserve to be protected on Canadian territory. We call on the Indian government to act with the utmost transparency as authorities investigate this murder,” he added.
“The light must be shed,” he said again, while appealing for calm.
In his turn to speak, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh, himself of Sikh faith, said he was devastated to hear the news. This, he argued, will have “devastating and profound consequences” for Canadians.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, THE CANADIAN PRESS
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh
“I grew up hearing a lot of stories that raised a lot of concern about human rights violations in India,” he continued. But I never imagined hearing the Prime Minister corroborate that there is a link between the murder of a Canadian citizen, on Canadian territory, and a foreign government. »
Bloc leader Alain Therrien offered his party’s full cooperation to obtain justice: “We are a state of law, and at all times, without exception, we must respect that. This is a clear message that Parliament must give to the guilty parties.”
A few days ago, International Trade Minister Mary Ng indicated that she was postponing a trade mission to India. Starting October 9, she was to lead a five-day “Team Canada” trip to Mumbai. No justification was provided.
with The Canadian Press