News Brief
'If Might Starts To Make Right': Trudeau's Latest Swipe At India Amid Diplomatic Row Over Nijjar Killing
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
In his latest remarks regarding the diplomatic tensions with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern that the world will turn into a "more dangerous" place for all "if bigger countries can violate international law without consequences".
Diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have been tense since Trudeau alleged that Indian operatives were involved in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada, in June.
He was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and was among the most sought-after terrorists by India.
India had dismissed Trudeau's claims as "absurd" and "motivated".
Speaking to the press at the inauguration of a nationwide smart energy grid, the Canadian Prime Minister addressed a query about whether the US should intervene with India on Canada's behalf.
"From the very beginning, when we learnt of credible allegations that agents of the Indian government are involved in the killing of a Canadian citizens on Canadian soil, we reached out to India to ask them to work with us in getting to the bottom of this matter. We also reached out to our friends and allies, like the United States, and others to work on these really serious violation of international law and sovereignty of a democracy. This is something we are taking very very seriously, we will continue to work with all partners as law enforcement and investigative agencies continue to do their work," he said.
"Canada is a country that will always stand up for the rule of law because if might starts to make right, if bigger countries can violate international law without consequences, then the whole world gets more dangerous for everyone," he added.
When questioned about the whether Canadian MP Chandra Arya inviting Indian envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma to an event amid the diplomatic standoff was appropriate, Trudeau responded that Canada aims to "work constructively" with India on this "very serious matter".
"We have reached out to the Indian government and to partners around the world to get to the bottom of this, to take it seriously. That's why we were so disappointed when India violated the Vienna convention and arbitratrily revoked the diplomatic immunity of over 40 Canadian diplomats in India," he said.
"We have serious reasons to believe that agents of the government of India could have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. And India's response is to kick out a whole bunch of Canadian diplomats by violating their rights under the Vienna convention. That is of concern to countries around the world because if a given country," the Canada Prime Minister added.
Trudeau said Canada has tried to "work constructively" with India and that it will continue to do so.
"This is not a fight we want to be having right now but we will always unequivocally stand up for the rule of law," he said.
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