India’s high commissioner to Canada has denied involvement in the 2023 killing of a key Sikh separatist leader in Canada, accusing the Canadian government of being “politically motivated” in its charges.

Sanjay Kumar Verma was asked in an interview with Canadian network CTV News on Sunday if he had anything to do with Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination.

“Nothing at all, no evidence presented, politically motivated,” he informed me.

The interview comes only days after Canadian police revealed evidence that Indian government officials were “involved in serious criminal activity in Canada,” including links to “homicides and violent acts.”

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government ordered the expulsion of six Indian diplomats and consular personnel, including India’s High Commissioner Verma, after they were identified as “persons of interest” in the killing of Nijjar.

Nijjar had been a key figure in the Khalistan movement, a Sikh campaign for an independent state in India’s Punjab area that India regards as a danger to national security.

His death caused shockwaves across Canada, and relations between New Delhi and Ottawa reached new lows after the Canadian government said in September of last year that it was looking into whether Indian government operatives were involved.

India has dismissed the allegations, calling them “preposterous imputations” and asking Canada to provide evidence to back up its assertions.

No Evidence Offered by Trudeau

On Monday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that it personally handed information to Indian government officials, “urging their cooperation in stemming the violence and requesting our law enforcement agencies work together to address these issues”.

During Sunday’s interview with CTV News, Verma – the Indian high commissioner to Canada – repeatedly said he has not been presented with any evidence from Justin Trudeau.

According to Verma, India is “committed not to do extrajudicial killings on any territory”.

He also stated that he had never led or pressured anyone into obtaining information on pro-Khalistan activists in Canada. “I, as high commissioner of India, have never done anything of that kind,” he said with CTV News.

“Do we want to know what pro-Khalistan elements in Canada are doing? Yes, we do. That is in my national interest. That is my main issue with Canada, which is attempting to devastate Indian territory.

“If the Canadian politicians are so novice that they want me not to know what my enemies are doing here, I’m sorry – then they don’t know what international relations is all about,” said Verma, stressing that the information gathering was “all overt”.

“We read the newspapers, we read their statements,” according to him.

Canada’s Sikh Population

But members of the Sikh community in Canada – the largest Sikh diaspora in the world, numbering around 770,000 people – have said they faced threats for decades. They have accused the Indian government of trying to silence them.

“For 40 years, our community has been working to bring foreign interference from India to light,” Moninder Singh, an associate of Nijjar’s in British Columbia, told Al Jazeera last year.

Sikh advocates in the United States have also faced threats, and last week, the US Department of Justice charged an Indian government official it said was involved in a failed plot to kill a prominent advocate for Sikh separatism in New York.

US authorities filed “murder-for-hire and money laundering charges” against Vikash Yadav for his alleged involvement in the plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Pannun, a US citizen, is the legal adviser for the group Sikhs for Justice and a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement.

“The defendant [Yadav], an Indian government employee, allegedly conspired with a criminal associate and attempted to assassinate a US citizen on American soil for exercising their First Amendment rights,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.

According to Sikhs for Justice, the US indictment demonstrates Washington’s commitment to protecting the lives, liberty, and freedom of expression of US citizens both domestically and internationally.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Yadav was no longer employed by the government.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was fatally shot in June 2023 outside a Sikh temple where he served as president in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia.

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Chandra Arya, a Canadian Member of Parliament, has expressed concerns regarding the safety of the Hindu community in Canada, citing fears stemming from Khalistani extremism. The call was made for the Canadian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to acknowledge the dangers associated with Khalistani extremism.

Concerns have been raised by Hindus throughout Canada in light of recent developments. As a Member of Parliament representing the Hindu community, I have encountered these concerns directly. Arya reported that last week, his attendance at a Hindu event in Edmonton was secured by the presence of RCMP officers, following a disruptive demonstration by a group of Khalistani protesters. This statement was shared on the social platform X.

The Member of Parliament stated that Canadians anticipate their national government to work alongside nations impacted by issues such as terrorism and extremism, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding its citizens.

His statement arises in the context of escalating diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, following accusations regarding the involvement of Indian government agents and diplomats in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed outside a Gurdwara in British Columbia.

Canada and India Issues

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has leveled serious accusations against India, alleging that the country is collaborating with organized crime groups to carry out “violent acts” against Canadian citizens within Canada’s borders.

Arya has called for the revival of diplomatic initiatives between the two nations in light of recent tensions, which have escalated following the mutual expulsion of diplomats. This situation arose after Canada’s contentious decision to interrogate Indian diplomats on its soil.

Recent revelations and developments are affecting the collaboration between Canada and India on this issue. Arya emphasized the urgent need for collective recognition of the significance of tackling cross-border threats linked to Khalistani extremism, urging a recommitment to effective measures against it.

Arya stressed the importance of Hindu-Canadians in Canada speaking out about their safety concerns and urged that politicians be held accountable for their responses to these issues.

“Our community stands out as one of the most educated and successful in the nation, playing a significant role in the advancement of Canada.” “However, politicians frequently misinterpret our low profile as a sign of weakness,” he stated.

Trudeau Government Threat

On October 14, India took the significant step of expelling six Canadian diplomats. This action followed a meeting with Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, during which India expressed its strong disapproval of what it termed the “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada.

The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that the actions of the Trudeau Government have posed a threat to their safety. As a result, the Indian government has made the decision to withdraw its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, along with other diplomats and officials who have been targeted.

In a significant declaration, officials in New Delhi emphasized their prerogative to pursue additional measures in reaction to what they termed the “Trudeau Government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India.”

The Member of Parliament committed to representing the individual’s concerns but emphasized that his solitary actions alone are insufficient. “We must unite to guarantee the protection of our safety and interests,” he emphasized.

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India Accuses Trudeau of Harboring Pro-Khalistan Criminals in Canada

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Under oath, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that Tucker Carlson and Dr. Jordan Peterson were supported by RT, a Russian state-owned media organization, but provided no proof to back up the assertion.

Tucker Carlson was the highest-rated cable TV host before departing Fox News in April 2023. Dr. Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist and former lecturer who rose to internet prominence by claiming that being forced to use pronouns like “ze” and “zir” constituted a violation of free speech.

Trudeau made the claim regarding Tucker Carlson and Dr. Jordan Peterson while appearing at a public hearing on foreign meddling on Wednesday.

Trudeau stated to the inquiry: “We’ve recently seen that RT is currently funding bloggers and other YouTube personalities of the right, such as Jordan Peterson and Tucker Carlson, in order to amplify messages that are destabilizing democracies.”

Trudeau’s statement appeared to refer to a newly released American indictment alleging that RT funneled $10 million to YouTube stars in exchange for pushing Russia-friendly news about the Ukraine conflict and spreading overall culture war disruption.

However, none of the claims have been proven in court, and neither Carlson nor Peterson are named in the indictment. The only people named and charged are two RT workers, and the specifics in the 32-page indictment match a small company called Tenet Media.

Carlson’s platform, Tucker Carlson Network, has denied any collaboration with RT or any other state-owned media organization in any country.

Dr. Peterson took to X yesterday to refute Trudeau’s allegations, writing, “Hey Russians! Where the hell is my money? @JustinTrudeau strikes again. “Whiffing at a foul ball.”

He tagged the prime minister’s account in a tweet. “With all due respect:) Do you have any you know evidence to back up your accusation?”

“It’s a very serious allegation,” he explained during an interview with the National Post. “You should have done your bloody homework, and if you’re going to make accusations, you should have at least got them right,” he said, adding that he is considering legal action.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable for the prime minister of this country to basically label me a traitor and I don’t find it amusing.”

Dear @JustinTrudeau
With all due respect
🙂
Do you have any
You know
Evidence
To back up your accusation?https://t.co/gBGlrQKW4H

— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) October 18, 2024

Dr Peterson took to X yesterday to deny Trudeau’s accusations, writing: “Hey Russians! Where the hell is my money?! @justintrudeau strikes again. Whiffing at a foul ball.”

He tagged the prime minister’s account in a tweet. “With all due respect 🙂 Do you have any you know evidence to back up your accusation?”

“It’s a very serious allegation,” he elaborated in an interview with the National Post. “You should have done your bloody homework and if you’re going to make accusations, you should have at least got them right,” he said, adding he is considering legal action.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable for the prime minister of this country to basically label me a traitor and I don’t find it amusing.”

Trudeau Facing Mutiny in his Caucus

Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau is facing a caucus mutiny, but the lawmakers behind it have sought to keep quiet so as not to humiliate the prime leader.  A group of Liberal MPs have been meeting in closed rooms near the prime minister’s office to discuss how they can persuade him to quit.

“It was supposed to be very private and never become public,” claimed a Liberal backbencher supporting the idea. “No one is out to humiliate the prime minister.”

The parliamentarians behind the initiative started planning last month, after the Liberals lost a bastion seat in Montreal during a special election, which followed another by-election loss in Toronto in June.

The prime minister’s assumption that the Liberal machine was in full swing sparked outrage among MPs. “You could literally see everyone’s jaws drop,” claimed the politician who assisted in organizing the remarks.

Another group of MPs hungry for change argued for a milder approach. A larger group won out, asking that the caucus directly ask Trudeau to resign aside. And if it doesn’t work, they claim to have a backup plan but won’t reveal any information.

Nobody has stepped forward as a possible replacement for Trudeau, who has headed the party since 2013. Would-be contenders are currently patiently waiting for their leader to depart on his own terms.

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