The tensions between Canada and India continue to escalate and hit new lows. Ever since Canada accused India of being linked to a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, new developments have been hitting the newsstands each day. Yesterday, India suspended visa services in Canada. Prior to that, India advised all its nationals in Canada and those planning to visit the country to exercise utmost caution”, given the “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada”.
Now, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has once again spoken on his country’s stance saying that the allegations levelled against India were not made “lightly”. Canadian media has reported that their government has collected “human and signals intelligence” in a “months-long investigation” into the matter.
Trudeau on India’s growing importance
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trudeau said, “ There is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with.”
He further said that Canada is not looking to provoke or cause problems, adding that the country is “unequivocal around the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians”, as per a PTI report.
He urged the Indian government to work with Canada to establish processes to discover and to uncover the truth of the matter and to allow justice and accountability to be served.
On being asked about the diplomatic tensions between the two nations, Trudeau said that Canada wants India to take this matter seriously and work with them to ensure justice, PTI reported.
So far Canada has not given any evidence backing its allegations. An AP report said that the allegations were based on surveillance of communication between Indian officials and Indian diplomats in Canada.