In a recent development, former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has strongly criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his allegations linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani extremist. Rubin, who currently serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, lambasted Trudeau’s claims, describing them as “shameless” and “cynical” in a conversation with news agency ANI.
Trudeau had alleged that India had connections with the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suggesting that Nijjar, often portrayed as a mere plumber, had “blood on his hands”. These explosive allegations have ignited a significant diplomatic dispute between India and Canada.
Who’s Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was one of India’s most-wanted terrorists, carrying a substantial cash reward of ₹10 lakh on his head. India officially designated him as a terrorist in 2020. Nijjar was killed on June 18 in British Columbia, Canada, and Trudeau’s statements regarding possible Indian involvement have further strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa.
India promptly rejected these allegations, deeming them “absurd” and “motivated.” In response, India took the tit-for-tat action of expelling a senior Canadian diplomat, mirroring Ottawa’s earlier expulsion of an Indian official related to the case.
‘I think, Trudeau has made a huge mistake’
Rubin, speaking at a panel discussion held at the Hudson Institute think-tank, expressed his concerns that Trudeau’s statements were inadvertently fueling perceptions that the Khalistani movement is driven by personal ego and profit motives rather than genuine political aspirations. Rubin cautioned that Trudeau had made a significant mistake by making allegations without providing supporting evidence.
Rubin remarked, “Prime Minister Trudeau, I think, has made a huge mistake. He has made allegations in a manner which he hasn’t been able to back. Either he was shooting from the hip and he doesn’t have the evidence to support the accusations he made against the government. There is something there, in which case he needs to explain why this government was sheltering a terrorist.”
Trudeau had initially raised Nijjar’s death in the Canadian Parliament, alleging Indian involvement. He reiterated these claims, stating that Ottawa had shared “credible allegations” with India, a statement met with skepticism by Rubin. Rubin emphasized the complexities of intelligence reports and referred to the Iraq War as an example of intelligence that often lacks clarity and precision.
The situation continues to evolve, with diplomatic tensions escalating between India and Canada as both nations grapple with the fallout of these serious allegations.