India-Canada Row: Trudeau alleges intel shared with India used to incite violence in Canada by criminal gangs

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday claimed that information about Canadians who oppose India's Prime Minister Modi was shared with the Indian government at the 'highest level'.

Linking this statement to the wanted Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, Trudeau said that this information was then used by criminal groups, to carry out acts of violence against Canadians citizens.

"Canadians who are opponents of the Modi government, their information was passed to the Indian government at the highest level and then information directed through criminal organizations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang resulted in violence against Canadians on the ground. We wanted to question Indian diplomats, but they did not waive their diplomatic immunity, which is why we had to ask them to leave," Trudeau said in front of the Foreign Interference Commission.


Trudeau further claimed that there were "clear indications" that India had violated Canada's sovereignty during the inquiry, which spotlighted alleged illegal activities by Indian representatives targeting Canadian citizens.

"We had clear and certainly now ever clearer indications that India had violated Canada's sovereignty," said Trudeau.

While acknowledging that he did not provide concrete evidence to India regarding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Trudeau indicated that intelligence services had alerted him to potential Indian involvement.

"Over the course of summer, I was apprised by intelligence services that the government was involved in the killing of Nijjar... In August, intelligence from Canada and The Five Eyes made it clear that India was involved," he explained.

He accused India of escalating its attacks against Canada in response to the allegations, emphasizing, "We told India it is not hard evidence but just intelligence... India undermined our government and governance."

Trudeau's comments come just days after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing evidence of their involvement in coercive operations to gather intelligence.

In response to Canada’s allegations, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner in New Delhi.

India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned Canada's actions, stating they endangered the safety of Indian diplomats.

In its statement, India criticised Trudeau's government for fostering an environment of extremism and violence, asserting that it has allowed violent extremists to harass Indian diplomats and community leaders.

New Delhi also denounced Canada's failure to provide evidence supporting Trudeau's claims regarding Indian involvement in Nijjar's death.