Ottawa: A Canadian commission report has dealt a major blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations against India as it said no “definitive link” with a “foreign state” in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In September 2023, Trudeau stated that Canada had credible evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.
On Tuesday, a report titled Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions was released.
In the report, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue noted, “Disinformation is used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a state’s interests.” The report suggests that India spread disinformation regarding Nijjar’s killing.
“This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),” the report said.
Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The 123-page report also discussed the expulsion of six Indian diplomats.
“In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in response to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India,” the report stated.
However, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the withdrawal of its high commissioner.
India-Canada diplomatic row
Relations between India and Canada were severely strained following Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations in September of last year regarding the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. New Delhi dismissed Trudeau’s accusations as “absurd.”
India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau’s government for being lenient towards supporters of the Khalistan movement residing in Canada. The Khalistan movement is banned in India but enjoys support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
On Tuesday, India strongly rejected the “insinuations” made against it in a report by a Canadian commission that investigated claims of foreign interference in Canada’s elections. In a firm response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi rejected the report’s “insinuations” regarding India. It further stated that it is, in fact, Canada that has been “consistently interfering” in India’s internal affairs.
