India is not ruling out an investigation into Canada’s charges that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of a Khalistani separatist there, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, but Canada must present proof to support its accusations.

In response to queries, Jaishankar made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview with seasoned journalist Lionel Barber titled How a Billion People See the World here. “If you have a reason to make such an allegation please share the evidence because we are not ruling out an investigation…,” Jaishankar, who is in the UK for a five-day official visit, stated in response to a question.

He stressed that Canada had not provided India with any proof to back up its claims.

Following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations in September of a “potential” role for Indian operatives in the June 18 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, ties between India and Canada became severely strained. In 2020, India classified Nijjar as a terrorist.

Trudeau’s accusations have been dismissed by India as “absurd” and “motivated.” Referring to the pro-Khalistani actions in Canada, Jaishankar stated that freedom of speech and expression come with a duty and that it would be extremely wrong to exploit these freedoms and to tolerate their misuse for political reasons.

Indian diplomats were threatened in public

Jaishankar stated that he discussed the matter with his counterpart Melanie Joly in Canada.

He mentioned the attacks on the Indian High Commission in Canada, as well as the smoke bombings that occurred at the High Commission and Consulate General. He claimed that Indian diplomats were threatened in public, and that the Canadian government did nothing to stop the perpetrators.

Prime Minister Trudeau emphasised last week that Ottawa wants to “work constructively” with New Delhi on this “very serious matter,” but he also restated his accusations and stated that Canada does not want to be in a “fight” with India at this time. India has expressed to the US side its grave worries regarding the growing activities of pro-Khalistani groups in Canada, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.

Kwatra recently stated in New Delhi, “Insofar as Canada is concerned, we have been having very consistent conversations with all our friends and partners. Our position on this matter has been enunciated and explained in full detail on multiple occasions.”

In September, following Trudeau’s accusations, India urged Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the nation to maintain parity and briefly halted the issuing of visas to Canadian citizens.

More than a month after they were put on hold, India started offering certain visa services in Canada again last month.

Regarding China, Jaishankar claimed that the fatal conflict that occurred in the Galwan Valley in 2020 had damaged relations between the two nations. Claiming that such noncompliance with accords has negative effects for China’s credibility, he stated that China broke the agreements made in 1993 and 1996 not to build up forces at the Line of Actual Control.

You might also be also intersted – Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar whose murder sparked India-Canada tensions?