New Delhi:
Against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and CanadaIndia has expressed concern over Canada’s handling of criminals associated with organized crime. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal today stated Canada’s reluctance to extradite individuals associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a notorious India-based criminal organization involved in crimes in Canada.
“We find it really strange that the people we asked to be deported, the Canadian cops are now claiming that these people are committing crimes in Canada that are being blamed on India,” Mr. Jaiswal said. On India’s extradition requests, Mr. Jaiswal said, “26 have been pending for a decade or more. Several requests for probation are also pending.”
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Since September 2023, diplomatic relations between India and Canada have deteriorated, largely triggered by the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijhar in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of being involved in the killing, a claim India strongly denied. Mr. Jaiswal reiterated India’s position during a recent press briefing, saying that despite numerous allegations from Canada, there remains “not a single piece of evidence” linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder.
“We have made our position very clear through various press releases. No evidence has been provided since September 2023 and just last night we issued another press release reiterating our position,” Mr Jaiswal said. “To date, Canada has not provided any evidence to support its claims. Their claims are politically motivated. A clear pattern of defaming India for reasons best known to them.”
In addition to denying the allegations, India recently withdrew its diplomats from Canada, citing safety concerns, after which Canada expelled several Indian officials, further straining relations.
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“We value our strong trade ties with Canada and our people-to-people ties, especially given the large number of Indian students in Canada. But the current situation has been brought about entirely by the Trudeau government,” Mr. Jaiswal explained, adding that Canada has benefited from that relationship and India has shown restraint despite the provocative steps taken by Ottawa.
Former raw employee “no longer employed”
In a related development, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) today named a former Research and Analysis Branch (RAW) officer, referred to as ‘CC1’, in its indictment for a botched plot to kill another Khalistan terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun . The United States confirmed that this person is “no longer employed by the Indian government.”
Mr Jaiswal today confirmed the US claim, confirming that the individual was no longer an Indian government employee.
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US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, during a press briefing, confirmed that both India and the US were conducting separate but coordinated investigations into the conspiracy. Miller said a “productive meeting” took place between the Indian commission of inquiry and US officials.
Acceptance of Justin Trudeau
In a startling admission at a public inquiry, Prime Minister Trudeau admitted Canada had “no hard evidence” to support allegations linking Indian government agents to Nijar’s killing last year.
Speaking at a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in Canada’s federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, Mr. Trudeau revealed that his claims about Indian interference were based on intelligence rather than hard evidence.
“I was briefed on the fact that there was intelligence from Canada and probably from Five Eyes allies that made it quite clear, incredibly clear that India was involved in this… Agents of the Government of India were involved in the assassination of a Canadian on Canadian land,” he said.
Nijar, designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) later said six Indian diplomats were involved in a conspiracy to kill Nijar. Canadian police also suspect that Bishnoi’s gang is linked to Indian government agents.
Mr. Trudeau explained that Canada had the opportunity to go public with the allegations at the G20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, but chose not to.
“Our response was, well, that’s within your security agencies,” Mr. Trudeau said, recounting the exchange between Canada and India. “At this point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidence. So we said, let’s work together and look at your security services.”
Mr. Trudeau added that he confronted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit, claiming Canada was aware of India’s alleged involvement. According to Mr. Trudeau, Prime Minister Modi’s response was to express concern about people in Canada criticizing the Indian government, asking that they be arrested.
