Did not want to blow up India ties: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Nijjar killing: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeats the allegation that India was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar; tells a federal commission that his government had “reasons to believe that India did it”

Conversations with India around the G-20 Summit in 2023 in New Delhi about the killing of Khalistani activistHardeep Singh Nijjar were based on intelligence and not proof, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a federal commission that is examining foreign interference in the country.

Mr. Trudeau on Wednesday (October 16, 2024) repeated the allegation that India was involved in the killing. The Prime Minister said the decision to go public on such a sensitive issue was taken to assure Canadians that the government was serious about their security. “We wanted the public to know that we were taking action..” said Mr. Trudeau.

Mr. Trudeau said it was a “massive mistake if India had done it”, adding that his government had “reasons to believe that India did it”.

There was no discussion on evidence in the hearing as the proceeding moved on to other topics.

The PM said Canada did not want to end up in the current state of tension with India. “My position and Canada’s position is to defend the territorial integrity of India. ‘One India’ is our policy. There are a number of people in Canada who argue otherwise, but that does not make it our policy. It is also not something that is illegal Canada,” the PM said. He said India’s response when the concerns were taken up with it was “to attack Canada, undermine our government and the integrity of our democracy”.

The Canadian PM said the intelligence gathering on Nijjar killing was prompted by requests from South Asian members of parliament.

Upon gathering intelligence about India’s alleged involvement, he said, “Our immediate response was to communicate with Indian security agencies..Our attempt was to ensure that India-Canada relations were not blown up. At the G-20 summit… we did not want to make it uncomfortable for India...”