NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reaffirmed his government’s pledge to collaborate constructively with India regarding the investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
Trudeau stated that Canada is “looking to work constructively with the government of India to get to the bottom” of the matter involving the death of the alleged terrorist, during a media event in Vancouver, BC.
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Trudeau emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting, “The credible allegations that agents of the Indian government were involved in…that is something that we did not declare lightly, but our responsibility to protect all Canadians from illegal actions by foreign governments is something that, as a country grounded in diversity, we need to take very seriously.”
“We’ve been unequivocal about standing up for the rule of law and ensuring appropriate investigations are being done in full accordance with our justice system and our police independence,” Trudeau added.
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The killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, outside a Gurdwara last year raised concerns, particularly after Trudeau suggested the potential involvement of Indian agents. However, India has refuted these allegations, stressing the necessity for evidence to substantiate such claims.
Nijjar, designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he exited a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18, 2023. Trudeau’s remarks come nearly nine months after the incident, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) yet to name suspects or make arrests in connection with the killing.
India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd and motivated,” asserting that Canada has failed to provide any evidence to support its claims regarding Nijjar’s killing.