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A day after three Indian nationals were charged with the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had declared that Canada is a “rule-of-law country” with an independent and powerful justice system and a fundamental commitment to protect its citizens. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot and killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. “This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens,” Trudeau said about the arrests on Saturday, May 4.
Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh residing in Edmonton are among the three Indian nationals being charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder on Friday, May 3.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) quoted Trudeau, “As the RCMP stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday.” He said that many in Canada’s Sikh community are feeling unsafe following Nijjar’s killing. “Every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and threats of violence in Canada,” he added.
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After three Indian nationals were arrested in connection with the murder, Police in Canada said they had worked with US law enforcement agencies, without giving additional details. The police suggested more arrests might be coming.
David Teboul, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner, the force’s commander for the Pacific region, said on Friday that he wouldn’t comment on the alleged links between the three men arrested and Indian officials but noted the force is “investigating connections to the government of India.”
Further to this, India has dismissed Trudeau’s charges as “absurd” and “motivated.” The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated India, which had designated Nijjar a “terrorist.”
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is due to their internal politics and has nothing to do with India. He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank. “We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar further added that the Canadian government has not done anything and India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed. “Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics,” the minister said.