Canada, January 30:
Months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an official report has found no definitive foreign link to the killing.
The Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, released on Tuesday, states that while India may have engaged in a disinformation campaign following Trudeau’s allegations, no concrete evidence ties a foreign state to Nijjar’s murder.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, who led the investigation, noted:
“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).”
Trudeau’s Allegations and Diplomatic Fallout
In September 2023, Trudeau asserted that Canada had credible evidence suggesting Indian agents played a role in Nijjar’s murder in British Columbia. However, the commission’s findings indicate that these claims lack solid proof.
In retaliation to the allegations, diplomatic relations between India and Canada deteriorated. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats in October 2024, citing a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by individuals linked to the Indian government. India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats and recalling its High Commissioner.
Ongoing Tensions Between India and Canada
Trudeau’s allegations have strained ties between the two nations, with India firmly rejecting the claims as “absurd” and criticising Canada’s perceived leniency towards pro-Khalistan elements. While the Khalistan movement is banned in India, it has gained support among certain sections of the Sikh diaspora in Canada.
The report’s findings raise further questions about the future of India-Canada relations, which have been under strain due to ongoing disagreements on the Khalistan issue.
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