Canada briefs Sunak, Biden and Macron on concerns over India ahead of UN summit

Canada has briefed key allies including the US, UK and France about its explosive claim that India was behind the assassination of a leading Sikh separatist. Justin Trudeau , in a surprise statement to the Canadian parliament, said on Monday that his country has ‘credible’ intelligence to believe New Delhi played a role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar that took place in June this year. Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly announced the country had expelled a senior Indian diplomat working for the country’s intelligence agency RAW. On Tuesday morning India denied any role in Nijjar’s death and, in a tit-for-tat move, expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Canadian public service broadcaster CBC News quoted a senior government source as saying that Mr Trudeau has provided information about the Nijjar case to Canada’s key allies including British prime minister Rishi Sunak , French president Emmanuel Macron and US president Joe Biden . Canada’s foreign minister Ms Joly also said she will discuss the assassination claims with her fellow G7 counterparts during meetings this week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. On 18 June, Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Mr Trudeau told parliament that Canada’s national security apparatus had reason enough to believe ‘agents of the Indian government’ carried out Nijjar’s killing . ‘Canada has declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government,’ Mr Trudeau said. Nijjar – who advocated for a Sikh homeland through the establishment of an independent Khalistan state – had been labelled a ‘terrorist’ by the Indian government and accused of heading a militant separatist organisation, allegations vehemently denied by his supporters. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), a representative body for Sikh interests, reported that Nijjar had expressed concerns about ‘threats to his life’ prior to his murder. The WSO said Nijjar had also claimed he was being singled out by India’s intelligence agencies. In a statement, the WSO alleged ‘several other Canadian Sikhs are also understood to be under threat’ and are on Indian ‘hit lists’. ‘The significance of today’s announcement cannot be understated for Sikhs. Today, the prime minister of Canada has publicly said what Sikhs in Canada have known for decades – India actively targets Sikhs in Canada,’ it said. Jagmeet Singh, who heads Canada’s New Democratic Party, criticised the Narendra-Modi-led Indian government for being ‘one of division, violence, persecution’ with a known pattern of ‘attacking those who are critical’ of its actions, according to local media. ‘Today we learned of allegations that agents of the Indian Government murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a Canadian killed on Canadian soil. To all Canadians, this is my vow. I will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice, including holding Narendra Modi accountable,’ he wrote on social media. Mr Singh suggested a public inquiry into foreign interference, initiated due to accusations of Chinese interference, should also look at India and its activities within Canada. India’s foreign ministry has termed the accusations by Canada ‘ absurd ‘. In a statement, the ministry said the move reflects ‘India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities’. ‘Allegations of government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law,’ the statement said.