After a diplomatic row escalated between India and Canada on Tuesday over allegations of the Government of India's involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the matter in a press briefing.
In the press address, Trudeau backed up the claims made earlier by the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that Canada has "compelling evidence" about India's involvement "in clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in a dozen threating and violating acts including murder."
"As the RCMP commissioner stated earlier they have clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety," Trudeau said.
"This includes clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in a dozen threating and violating acts including murder."
#WATCH | Ottawa: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau says, “As the RCMP commissioner stated earlier they have clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. This… pic.twitter.com/d1BGKp1y90
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024
"This is unacceptable," Trudeau continued. While attempts have been made by the RCMP and national security officials to work with the Government of India and Indian law enforcement counterparts on this matter they have been repeatedly refused.
"This is why this weekend Canadian officials took an extraordinary step they met with Indian officials to share RCMP evidence which concluded six agents of the Government of India are persons of interest in criminal activities.
"Despite repeated requests to the Government of India, it decided not to cooperate," he added.
Since the diplomatic escalation, Canada and India have each expelled six diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.