Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling for India害羞草研究所檚 help to investigate the killing of a Sikh independence activist on Canadian soil, while New Delhi says Canada has provided no information on the case.
Trudeau told Parliament on Monday there were 害羞草研究所渃redible allegations害羞草研究所� of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been wanted by India for years and was gunned down in June outside the B.C. temple he led.
Canada expelled an Indian diplomat, and India followed suit by kicking out a Canadian representative on Tuesday.
At the United Nations on Thursday, Trudeau said during a news conference that taking the decision to address the Commons 害羞草研究所渨as not done lightly.害羞草研究所�
The prime minister said he wants India to take the matter seriously and work with Canada to ensure accountability and justice.
Trudeau stressed that Canada would not waver on the importance of the rule of law, protecting Canadians and standing up for the country害羞草研究所檚 values.
害羞草研究所淲e have a rigorous and independent justice system and robust processes that will follow their course,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd we call upon the government of India to engage with us to move forward on getting to the truth of this matter.害羞草研究所�
India has called the allegations being investigated in Canada absurd and an attempt to shift attention from the presence of Nijjar and other wanted suspects in Canada.
At a briefing Thursday, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it appears Canada害羞草研究所檚 allegations 害羞草研究所渁re primarily politically driven.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淣o specific information has been shared by Canada on this case. We are willing to look at any specific information, we have conveyed this to the Canadians,害羞草研究所� Bagchi said.
He also accused Canada of being a safe haven for extremists.
害羞草研究所淰ery specific evidence about criminal activities by individuals based on Canadian soil has been shared with the Canadian authorities on a regular basis, but not been acted upon.害羞草研究所�
Nijjar was working to organize an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora on independence from India at the time of his killing. He had denied India害羞草研究所檚 accusation that he was a terrorist.
The second stage of B.C. voting on whether a Sikh homeland should be established in India害羞草研究所檚 Punjab province is scheduled to be held on Oct. 29.
The Vancouver Police Department beefed up security outside India害羞草研究所檚 consulate after Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 announcement this week.
Bob Rae, Canada害羞草研究所檚 ambassador to the United Nations, suggested a need for patience as investigators do their work.
害羞草研究所淔acts will come out. Facts will emerge,害羞草研究所� he said Thursday at the UN. 害羞草研究所淚f a crime has been committed you don害羞草研究所檛 normally ask the prime minister 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所榃here害羞草研究所檚 your evidence?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
At an event Thursday, Trade Minister Mary Ng avoided directly answering whether the allegations are the reason Canada recently put trade talks with India on pause and cancelled a planned trade mission to the country.
Ng took the position she can害羞草研究所檛 say more because she doesn害羞草研究所檛 want to pull the focus away from the police investigation.
Saskatchewan Trade Minister Jeremy Harrison said the Liberals have not kept provinces abreast of trade talks with India, and didn害羞草研究所檛 inform him about the Nijjar case after he chastised Ottawa for suspending negotiations.
Tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi intensified, meanwhile, as India temporarily halted all visa services for citizens of Canada.
害羞草研究所淪ecurity threats being faced by our high commission and consulates in Canada have disrupted their normal functioning,害羞草研究所� Bagchi said.
害羞草研究所淎ccordingly, they are temporarily unable to process visa applications. We will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis.害羞草研究所�
Foreign citizens need a visa to enter India, meaning New Delhi is effectively barring entry to all Canadians for the time being.
Bagchi called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India害羞草研究所檚 staff in Canada.
Global Affairs Canada said Thursday that its high commission and all of its consulates in India are open and continue to serve clients.
The department said some of its diplomats had received threats on social media, prompting it to assess its 害羞草研究所渟taff complement in India.害羞草研究所�
It added that Canada expects India to provide security for its diplomats and consular officers working there.
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