News Brief
Someone 'High Up' In Canada Wants India Blamed For Nijjar's Killing: Indian Envoy Breaks Silence Amid Threat To Life Of Indian Diplomats
Nayan Dwivedi
Nov 06, 2023, 01:02 PM | Updated 01:02 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Verma, emphasised that Canada hasn't given India any information to assist in the Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case.
As reported by The Times Of India, Verma accused Canada of conducting a "tainted" probe into the killing.
The conflict began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged Indian involvement in the case, leading to India's expulsion of 41 Canadian diplomats.
While the US and other Canadian partners in the Five Eyes alliance urged India to reconsider its decision and cooperate with the Canadian probe, the Indian government remained steadfast in its position.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, have reportedly been in touch regarding the matter, but India continues to assert that the allegations made by Canada are unsubstantiated and absurd.
Verma questioned the evidence presented by Canada, particularly citing the inclusion of Indian "diplomatic communications" intercepted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
He stressed that diplomatic conversations are protected by international law and cannot be used as court evidence or publicly released.
Despite the strained diplomatic relations, Verma expressed India's readiness to expand business ties with Canada and resume talks for a trade deal.
He emphasised the importance of signing the deal promptly to benefit traders and investors.
Additionally, he urged Canada to address Canadian nationals who support efforts to dismember India, as this remains a core issue in the dispute.
India recently resumed visa services for specific categories of Canadian nationals after Canada enhanced security measures for Indian diplomats.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.