According to a Canada commission report, “no definitive link” with a “foreign state” was “proven” in the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, refuting claims made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that some Indian agents were involved in the killing, according to news agency.
The 123-page study titled “Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions,” which was made public on Tuesday, included the observation.
Additionally, the Indian government was accused of meddling in the Canadian elections in the same study, a charge that India has vehemently denied. In response to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We have seen a report about alleged activities on purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organized criminal activities. We reject the report’s insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced.”
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau charged India with involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a split in India-Canada relations developed. He claimed that Canada has sufficient proof to establish that Indian government operatives were responsible for Nijjar’s death. India vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as “absurd.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Following this, India and Canada’s diplomatic relations deteriorated, and diplomats were expelled from both countries. The expulsion of six Indian diplomats from Canada in October 2024 is also included in the study. In response, India announced the removal of its high commissioner and expelled six Canadian diplomats as well.