Justin Trudeau accuses India of being responsible for the assassination of a Sikh leader in Canada

diplomacy Ottawa expelled a senior Indian diplomat from Canada in retaliation, after the murder of a

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi (photomontage). — Sipa

These are explosive accusations. Canada believes that there are “credible elements” suggesting that India could be responsible for the assassination of a Sikh leader in western Canada last June, said India. Justin Trudeau in front of Parliament on Monday during a last minute speech. In the process, Ottawa announced; the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat.

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The Canadian Prime Minister estimated that in a last minute speech, after having summoned The opposition urged that there was “credible evidence of a possible link between agents of the Government of India and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen  ».

“The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil constitutes an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” he continued. Justin Trudeau asked “with the greatest firmness” I urge the Indian government to cooperate in clarifying this matter.

Justin Trudeau clarified that that he had “personally” addressed the subject with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during the G20 in New Delhi at the beginning of September.

Strained relations

Relations between the two countries have become strained in recent months since the assassination of the Sikh leader and the protests that followed in Canada. Ottawa notably recently suspended negotiations for a free trade agreement with India.

Canadians demonstrated on June 24, 2023 after the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Paris. Vancouver. – Ethan Cairns/AP/SIPA

New Delhi accuses the Canadian government of turning a blind eye to the activities of radical Sikh nationalists who advocate the creation of an independent Sikh state in the north of the ;India.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his “deep concerns about continued anti-Indian activities of extremist elements in Canada» during his meeting with Justin Trudeau, at on the occasion of the last G20 gathering in India, in early September.

Canada is the country with the largest number of Sikhs outside their state of origin, Punjab, in India .