The US statement has also come amid the ongoing dispute between India and Canada over the case of Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The US has accused India of not cooperating with the investigation. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday – Canada's accusations against India are very serious. We want the Government of India to cooperate with Canada in the investigation. India has not done so till date.
Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed on Monday that Indian government officials were involved in Nijjar's murder. This is not the first time that the US has commented on the tension between India and Canada. In September last year, Canada's PM Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Niger in Parliament. Even then America asked India to cooperate in the investigation.
What happened between India and Canada in 3 days?
October 13: Canada sent a letter to India. It said Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats are suspects in a case. Canada has not released details of the case, but it is being linked to the Niger case.
October 14: India protested against the suspicion of their diplomats and expelled the Canadian ambassador. A few hours later, India recalled Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats. Late night news came that Canada has also ordered the return of 6 of its ambassadors from India.
October 15: The Prime Minister of Canada alleged the direct involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.
Claim- Khalistanis were attacked at the behest of Amit Shah
American media house Washington Post has claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah and RAW agency together allowed Khalistan terrorists to gather intelligence and attack in Canada. The Washington Post quoted a Canadian official as saying that Indian diplomats were pressuring many people to hand over intelligence in exchange for permission to travel to Canada.
The work was led by India's High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma. According to the report, on October 12, Canada's NSA also informed India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in a meeting about this.
Indian agents had gathered a lot of information, Canadian police said
Canadian Police Commissioner Mike Duhem also held a press conference. He said that Indian diplomats and officials in Canada have abused their positions and secretly collected information for the Indian government. Indian officials used agents for this. Some of these agents were threatened and coerced into working with the Indian government.
He said that information collected by India is being used to target South Asians. We gave evidence of this to the Indian government officials and appealed to them to stop the violence and cooperate.
Canadian police also held a press conference on October 14.
Khalistani terrorist Nijjar, who was killed last year, has been a source of tension between the two countries
Nijjar was shot dead on the evening of June 18, 2023 while leaving a gurudwara in Surrey, Canada. On September 18 last year, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of Nijjars, which India denied.
After this, on May 3, three accused of Nijjar's murder were arrested. All three accused are Indians. Canadian police said police had been monitoring him for several months. They believe that India assigned them the task of killing Nijjars. India then said in this matter that this is an internal matter of Canada.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered on 18 June 2023. In September, Canada's PM blamed India for the murder.
Why is the Nijra issue important to Trudeau?
Parliamentary elections will be held in Canada in October 2025. Khalistan supporters are considered a major vote bank for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's party. However, just last month pro-Khalistan Jagmeet Singh's NDP party, which was part of the Trudeau government, withdrew its support.
The breakdown left the Trudeau government in a minority, although Trudeau's Liberal Party won the support of another party in a majority test held on October 1. Due to this, Trudeau passed the floor test.
According to the 2021 census, the total population of Canada is 3.89 crore, of which 18 lakh are Indians. This is 5% of the total population of Canada. Of these, more than 7 lakh are Sikhs, which is 2% of the total population.
Nijjar went to Canada 27 years ago, declared a terrorist 3 years ago
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Why Lawrence is the main cause of India-Canada dispute?: Questions raised in the country and abroad, Nijjar-Pannu's murder conspiracy is the same, why Canada connects Lawrence with Indian agents?
NCP Ajit group leader Baba Siddiqui was shot dead on the night of October 12, 2024. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder. Lawrence is currently lodged in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail. His name also came up in the firing outside Salman's house on April 14 this year. Lawrence Bishnoi is one name that has strained relations between India and Canada. Click here to read the full news
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).