Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted that his government had not provided India with concrete proof regarding the alleged involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This revelation came during Trudeau’s testimony before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Addressing the inquiry, Trudeau clarified that the accusations he made against India were based on intelligence, not hard evidence. "At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof,” he stated. The allegations center on claims that Indian agents were linked to Nijjar’s murder outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada.
While Trudeau maintained that Canada has "credible evidence" implicating India in Nijjar’s death, he noted that the initial belief was that the incident was 'gang-related'. He also confirmed that he had requested India's intelligence services to investigate further. According to Trudeau, some South Asian Members of Parliament had strongly suggested that India might be involved, though he refrained from naming those MPs.
In his testimony, Trudeau also claimed that the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate played a role in the situation, alleging that information about Canadian opponents of the Modi government was shared with Indian authorities. This intelligence, he claimed, was then channelled through criminal organisations, such as the Bishnoi gang, which led to acts of violence against Canadians.
Canadian intelligence reportedly conveyed its concerns to Indian officials between July and August of 2023, suggesting possible Indian involvement. However, India has consistently denied any connection to the killing, dismissing Trudeau's allegations as "absurd."
The strained relations between India and Canada have only worsened since Trudeau’s initial allegations in September 2023. On Monday, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner from Canada in response to Ottawa’s charges. New Delhi has also categorically rejected any claims linking Indian agents to criminal gangs in Canada, countering Canada's assertion that evidence was shared regarding the Nijjar case.