Trudeau claims India violated Canada's sovereignty
Justin Trudeau accuses India of violating Canada's sovereignty: 'Clear Indications' of involvement
Relations between India and Canada have reached a new low following Canada’s claim that senior Indian diplomats are “persons of interest” in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Wednesday that there are "clear indications" that India violated Canadian sovereignty. He admitted that when he made these allegations, he had only intelligence, not concrete evidence.
Trudeau, testifying at a foreign interference inquiry, mentioned that Canada requested India’s cooperation in the investigation but emphasized that Canada needed more proof to substantiate its claims. He revealed that he discussed these issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G-20 summit, where Modi expressed concerns about Canadians speaking out against the Indian government and requested that they be arrested.
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India’s strong response
India has reacted strongly to Canada’s allegations, calling them “preposterous.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticized Trudeau's claims as politically motivated, suggesting they are part of his agenda to gain votes. The MEA stated that Trudeau’s long-standing hostility towards India is evident, referencing his controversial visit to India in 2018, which was aimed at appealing to voters but ended up causing embarrassment.
In response to the escalating tensions, India recalled several diplomats from Canada and expelled six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi. India maintains that Canada has not provided any evidence to support its serious claims of Indian involvement in Nijjar's murder. The situation has created significant diplomatic strain, and both nations are currently at odds over the allegations, with calls for clarity and cooperation remaining unfulfilled.