Justin Trudeau says Canada committed to closer ties with India despite Nijjar allegations

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada is still committed to building closer ties with India given New Delhi's growing importance on the world stage, despite "credible allegations" of the Indian government's involvement in the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking at a press conference in Montreal, according to Canada-based National Post, Trudeau said that he thinks it is “extremely important” that Canada and its allies continue to engage “constructively and seriously” with India.

"India is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, we're very serious about building closer ties with India," he told reporters.

Referring to the killing of Khalistani activist Nijjar, he said: “At the same time, obviously, as a rule of law country, we need to emphasize that India needs to work with Canada to ensure that we get the full facts of this matter.”


Earlier this month, Trudeau said Canada suspected Indian government agents were linked to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place in the province of British Columbia in June.

India has dismissed Canada's allegations as absurd. India external affairs minister S Jaishankar, though, said on Tuesday that New Delhi has told Canada it was open to looking into any "specific" or "relevant" information it provides on the killing.

Asked whether US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would raise the murder of Nijjar when he meets his Indian counterpart, Trudeau replied: "The Americans will certainly discuss this matter with the Indian government."

However, a US State Department statement issued after Blinken met his Indian counterpart made no mention of Nijjar's murder or of Canada as a whole.

A short State Department summary of the issues discussed in the meeting between Blinken and Jaishankar, formally called a readout, said: "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Washington, D.C. Secretary Blinken and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar discussed a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, and the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments. The Secretary and the External Affairs Minister also emphasized the continued importance of cooperation ahead of the upcoming 2+2 Dialogue, in particular in the areas of defense, space, and clean energy."

(With Agency Inputs)