NEW DELHI: The Indian government continues to look for “specific and relevant” evidence from Canada to investigate in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case, even as Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa Sanjay Verma said India was “condemned” for it Killed before the investigation could be completed.
Despite US pressure to join the Canadian investigation into Nijjar’s murder, New Delhi continued to reject Canadian claims about the possible involvement of Indian agents, claiming they were baseless and even absurd. However, Canada believes in its ‘credible claims’ Anti-India protests received a boost earlier this week when the US backed reports that it had foiled an alleged plot by Indian authorities to eliminate another Khalistan leader and American-Canadian citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun .
“India was convicted even without…” Indian High Commissioner to Canada asks for evidence of Nijjar’s murder
“Even before the investigation was completed, India was convicted. Is this a rule of law?” Verma asked in an interview with a local news channel. Asked why he used the word “condemned”, Verma replied: “Because India was asked to cooperate.”
“If you look at the typical terminology, if someone asks for cooperation, it means you are already convicted and you had better cooperate,” Verma said in a rare television interview. “We have interpreted it very differently, but we have always said that if there is something specific and relevant that is communicated to us, we will look into it.”
India’s response to US allegations of the Pannun attack was markedly different from its response to the Canadian allegations, with the government almost immediately admitting in the case that it had received tips from the US about a link between organized crime and terrorists, However, it did not admit that the US apparently linked Indian authorities to the conspiracy. According to the White House, after raising the issue with India, the Indian government stated that activities of this kind are not its policy.
Asked about the Americans’ alleged plot to eliminate Pannun, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had been working closely with allies, including the United States, since “mid-summer.”
“Of course we continue to work with India in hopefully constructive ways and hope that India continues to take these genuine concerns seriously,” Trudeau said.
At the virtual G20 summit on Wednesday, the Canadian prime minister spoke about the importance of upholding the rule of law and international law.
Watch “India was condemned even without…” Indian High Commissioner to Canada seeks evidence of Nijjar’s murder