Last Updated: September 25, 2023, 17:39 IST
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle while leaving the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib parking lot, in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 25, 2023. (AP)
Nijjar Killing Canada Row: “Two days ago, through the backdoors and diplomatically, we asked for information, but the Canadian side is unable to produce anything. They have acted on the advice of the Khalistani groups…,” says a top Indian govt source
The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, does not have intelligence inputs on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a top Indian government source told CNN-News18 amid the India-Canada diplomatic crisis.
ALSO READ | Khalistanis Control 8 of 250 Gurdwaras in Canada, Don’t Have Solid Sikh Support: Intel Source
In a blow to the bilateral ties between India and Canada, Trudeau recently accused India of being involved in the killing of Nijjar earlier this year. The Ministry of External Affairs said the claims made by Trudeau are “motivated and absurd”.
“Two days ago, through the backdoors and diplomatically, we asked for information, but the Canadian side is unable to produce anything. They have acted on the advice of the Khalistani groups and the same was communicated to G7 groups,” the source said.
“Their own law and order is an issue due to bad economy. They have shortage of law enforcement force due to sinking economy,” he added.
The source pointed out the “normalcy of gang wars” and the “immigration business” in Canada. “Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Communist Party of China (CCP) are very active in Canada. Killing their targets to control business is easy. They then put the blame on India,” said source.
The Indian side is clear that evidence should be shared before making any comments, he added.
‘NSA DOVAL HAS ALWAYS INFORMED CANADA ABOUT TROUBLEMAKERS’
CNN-News18 had earlier reported how top Indian government sources told that National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart always discussed the issues of both countries, especially terrorism. Doval had very clearly and categorically told his counterpart about the troublemakers and terrorists sitting in Canada, they had said.
NSA Doval always shared lists of wanted fugitives and letters rogatory (LRs) from various agencies and state police, sources had said. He shared intelligence inputs and intercepts from time to time, including the locations of these people, they added.
ALSO READ | Canada ‘Cautionary’ Tales: Pak Hand to Drug & Immigration Cartel, Exclusive from Intel Sources
Sources had said that his counterpart also raised issues of alleged Indian involvement to which Doval very clearly asked him for the evidence and First Information Reports (FIR). Sources said Doval had clearly told him that if the perpetrators were from India, this was a matter of deep concern, but evidence was needed to move in the direction of investigations.
‘SELECTIVE IN INVESTIGATIONS’
Trudeau has been accused of being selective with investigations into the deaths of citizens where foreign interference has been alleged. Trudeau has publicly accused India of being involved in the killing of Nijjar, a claim rejected by New Delhi, but has been silent about two deaths allegedly at the behest of China and Pakistan, respectively.
ALSO READ | Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Khalistan Terrorist at Centre of India-Canada Tussle | EXPLAINED
Sources in Canada told News18 that Trudeau has been selective with investigations into the killing of Chinese-origin Wei Hu and Pakistani-origin Karima Baloch.
