OTTAWA (Diya TV) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disclosed a potential link between the Indian government and the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, stating that the move aimed to “put a chill” on India amid safety concerns in the Sikh community. In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau shed light on the motivations behind his September announcement in the House of Commons.
Trudeau said the Sikh community in British Columbia had expressed worries about potential repercussions following Nijjar’s shooting. In response, the prime minister saw his public statement as an additional “level of deterrence” to enhance the safety of Canadians.
The disclosure exacerbated already strained relations between the Canadian Liberal ruling party and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who consistently denies any involvement in Nijjar’s killing. Trudeau revealed that the decision to go public followed weeks of “quiet diplomacy,” including discussions with India at the highest levels.
During the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Trudeau engaged in a 16-minute private meeting with Modi, acknowledging the anticipated difficulty of the conversations. Despite the challenging talks, Trudeau believed it was an opportune moment for India to showcase leadership on the global stage. However, he bluntly stated in the interview, “No,” when asked if he found the discussions constructive.
Trudeau’s decision to disclose the information on September 18 stemmed from a proactive approach. He anticipated that details would eventually leak to the media and wanted Canadians to be aware that the government was actively addressing the situation. The Globe and Mail broke the story shortly before Trudeau’s announcement in the House.
The move, intended to reassure Canadians, was met with immediate calls for evidence, both from India and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. India responded by temporarily suspending visa services for Canadians worldwide, and Canada withdrew much of its diplomatic presence from India.
Despite the challenges, Trudeau reiterated that Canada intends to reveal evidence in due course, aligning with the U.S. approach in the recent indictment related to the case. He acknowledged the different stakes involved in Canada’s murder investigation and emphasized that the justice system has its own unfolding processes.
