India calls Canada arrests over Sikh activist murder 'political compulsion'
India's Foreign Minister has labeled Canada's recent arrests of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of a Sikh separatist in as a 'political compulsion,' highlighting tensions between the two nations over the investigation.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who migrated to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen nearly two decades later, was shot dead by masked assailants in June 2023 in the parking lot of the Sikh temple he led in suburban Vancouver. Indian authorities had accused Nijjar of terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, allegations he had consistently denied.
The Canadian police, while investigating Nijjar's assassination, indicated they were exploring potential links between the suspects and the Indian government. This move drew criticism from India, which rejected allegations linking its intelligence agencies to the crime as 'absurd.'
Diplomatic relations between Ottawa and New Delhi soured following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement suggesting credible allegations of Indian intelligence involvement in the murder. India responded by temporarily halting visa processing and reducing Canada's diplomatic presence in the country.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, stated that Canada's actions were driven by political compulsions, emphasizing India's efforts to dissuade Ottawa from granting visas or legitimacy to Sikh separatists. Jaishankar criticized Canada's reluctance to share evidence and cooperate with Indian authorities in certain cases.
India has expressed willingness to collaborate with Canadian authorities pending the sharing of information regarding the arrested individuals. Jaishankar noted that the suspects allegedly have ties to gang activity, highlighting complexities in the investigation.
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