Ottawa [Canada], September 19 (ANI): Taking a jibe at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his allegations on India for its involvement in the alleged killing of the Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada‘s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has said that he should come out clean with all the facts in order to make judgements. In a media address on Tuesday, Poilievre said, “I think the prime minister needs to come clean with all the facts. We need to know all the evidence possible so that Canadians can make judgments on that.

Poilievre’s remarks came in response to a media query that asked what more should be done as an Indian diplomat was expelled by Canada. “The prime minister hasn’t provided any facts. He provided a statement. And I will just emphasize that he didn’t tell me any more in private than he told Canadians in public. So we want to see more information,” Poilievre said.

He stated that the allegations could be found untrue or uncredible if more information is not provided. “We need to have the evidence that drew that allowed the prime minister to come to the conclusions he made yesterday,” he said. “I would have to have more evidence to make a judgment on that. I do find it interesting that he knew about vast foreign interference by Beijing for many years, at the same time as Beijing had kept two Canadian citizens hostage. And he said nothing. And he did nothing. Just very interesting that that was the approach he took in that case,” he added.

A day ago, Trudeau accused the Indian government of the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He claimed that his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Najjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada‘s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Hailing from Bharsinghpur village in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Nijjar was based in Surrey and had been declared “absconder” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). India has, however, rejected the allegations by Canadian PM Trudeau regarding the government’s involvement in the fatal shooting of Nijjar. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the allegations ‘absurd ‘and ‘motivated’. “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” said the MEA in an official statement. (ANI)

“Concerning reports coming from Canada”: British Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh

London [UK], September 20 (ANI): Amid the sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on its soil, British Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on Tuesday said many “anxious, angry and fearful Sikhs” from Slough and beyond have contacted him. 

He added that the reports coming out of Canada were “concerning”.

Taking to his official handle on X, the British Labour MP posted, “Concerning reports coming from #Canada. Many #Sikhs from #Slough and beyond have contacted me; anxious, angry or fearful. Given Canadian PM Trudeau stated they’ve been working with close allies, we’re in touch with UK Gov to ensure justice is delivered.”

‘It better be good because if it’s not…”: Canadian journalist on PM Trudeau’s claim of Indian hand in Khalistani leader’s killing

Ottawa [Canada], September 20 (ANI): Wading into the fierce diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s allegation of Indian agents being behind the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader on his home soil, Canadian journalist Terry Milewski on Tuesday said he hoped that more “evidence” will come to the surface in the form of “leaks, or announcements or private briefings”.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Milewski said the allegation “better be good” as if it isn’t, it will turn into a “bigger embarrassment for Prime Minister Trudeau”.  

He said the “Indians were not going to sit quietly” unless the Canadian government presented “evidence” to back its claim of New Delhi’s involvement in the killing of the wanted Khalistani leader. “So I think that over time, either through a procedure of leaks or some sort of announcement or some nice little off-the-record private briefing for chosen reporters, that in one way or the other, it’s going to get out what the government is talking about…I can tell you that it better be good. Because if it’s not, this is just going to blossom into an even bigger embarrassment for Prime Minister Trudeau,” Milewski added.

Milewski is a former senior correspondent for Canada-based CBC television news. The Canadian journalist said there has been a persistent rumour within the Khalistan community in Canada that this (killing of Hardeep Nijjar) was not some local gangland killing. “The problem is that for the Canadians there has been a persistent but unconformable rumour…within the Khalistan community in Canada, which is large and very active, that this was not some local gangland killing, as it first appeared. Rather, it was a state-sponsored assassination by the Indian government,” he said.

Milewski added while the local Khalistan sympathisers have not been able to produce a shred of evidence linking India to the killing, it hasn’t stopped them from “making such accusations loudly”. “They prepared posters which they put up at parades and demonstrations at Indian missions in Canada, the consulate in Toronto, in Vancouver and the High Commission in Ottawa. These posters described Indian diplomats as killers and basically painted targets on the backs of these diplomats,” he added.

Milewski noted that Trudeau merely said Canada has “credible allegations”. He added that while the Canadian PM did not produce any evidence to back his allegation, it did not stop his government from expelling a senior Indian diplomat. “I’ve got a surprise for you…now we do have evidence,” the journalist claimed while not saying what it was. “He merely said that we have credible allegations, in his words, for a potential link between this murder and agents of the Indian government. He hasn’t proved it. He’s merely made the allegation. But that hasn’t stopped him from acting on it by booting out a senior Indian diplomat. And in return, the Indians have done the same. But I don’t think that’ll end it,” he added.

On no evidence yet to back the explosive claim, Milewski said the pressure is going to build on Trudeau in the coming days. “It’s a reasonable question that can he do this without revealing his evidence. I don’t think he can because I think that what’s going to happen tomorrow and the next day and the day after is that the pressure is going to mount. Why do you say these allegations are credible and what is the potential link that you’re alleging? Because without that, it’s just not going to fly,” he added.

India, on Tuesday, rejected the allegations by the Canadian PM that Indian agents were behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and a wanted terrorist in India, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada.
Moreover, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat to India in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat.

The move comes after India rejected as “absurd and motivated” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s charge that India played a role in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” the MEA said in an official statement on Tuesday. (ANI) 

British Columbia Premier backs Trudeau on allegations against India, asks for all facts

Vancouver [Canada], September 19 (ANI): Shortly after Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau alleged that India could be linked to the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force Chief Hardeep Nijjar, his statement was echoed by the Premier of British Columbia David Eby on Monday.

In a statement David Eby said Canadians across the country must be safe from interference of foreign governments, including being targeted for threats or physical harm, including murder.

“Canadians across the country must be safe from the interference of foreign governments, including being targeted for threats or physical harm, including murder.  Our democracy depends on it,” the British Columbia premier said on Monday.

Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada‘s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. Hailing from Bharsinghpur village in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Nijjar was based in Surrey and had been declared “absconder” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 
In July 2022 the NIA had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on Nirjar in connection with the killing of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar.

Meanwhile, British Columbia Premier David Eby said: “This afternoon, I received a further briefing from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on these allegations.  I am deeply disturbed and angered by this information.” “In light of these revelations, we will do all we can to enhance protection for the people of British Columbia against the violence or threats of state actors.” The British Columbia Premier called on the Canadian government to share all relevant information related to any known ongoing foreign interference and transnational organized crime threats with “our provincial authorities and our government, so we may act in co-ordination and protect those at risk.” (ANI)