This is what Canada has been talking about, says Trudeau after U.S. charges Indian for plotting Sikh separatist's murder
The Hindu
PM Trudeau: US indictment confirms Canada's allegations re Indian national's assassination attempt. Canada seeks India's cooperation to ensure safety and accountability. MEA: Canada gave space to anti-India elements, interference by Canadian diplomats unacceptable. Canada stands by its allegations, calls on India to engage in probe. India rejects Canada's attempt to portray withdrawal of 41 diplomats as violation of norms.
The indictment of an Indian national in a foiled assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on American soil underscored what Canada has been alleging in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case and India must take it seriously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Mr. Trudeau said Wednesday that Canadian authorities have been working closely with their American counterparts since August on allegations about the Indian government's involvement in Nijjar’s killing on June 18 in British Columbia province.
India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. New Delhi has rejected Mr. Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".
The remarks by Trudeau came after Nikhil Gupta, 52, was charged on Wednesday with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.
“The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we’ve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously. The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we’re getting to the bottom of this,” The Canadian Press quoted Mr. Trudeau as saying.
The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York does not name the U.S. citizen who was the target of the assassination plot.
However, The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.