Washington, Sep 19: The US on Tuesday said it is “deeply concerned” about the allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on India’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Surrey, and urged New Delhi to “cooperate” with Canberra in the investigation of the incident.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau on Monday alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as “absurd” and “motivated”.
“We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by PM Trudeau yesterday. We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners,” a State Department spokesperson told PTI.
“It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice. We urge the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and ensure that those responsible are held to account,” the spokesperson said in response to a question.
“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said Monday in a speech to the House of Commons.
After Trudeau’s remarks in Parliament, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that she has ordered the expulsion of “a senior Indian diplomat”.
With India hitting back by expelling a Canadian diplomat from its High Commission in New Delhi after Ottawa ordered an Indian diplomat to leave moments after Justin Trudeau blamed India for the killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian Prime Minister said on Tuesday that he is not aiming to provoke India.
“The government of India needs to take this matter with utmost seriousness. We are doing just that… We are not looking to provoke or escalate,” Trudeau said in the morning briefing before the House of Commons started.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the High Commission of Canada in the New Delhi as a precautionary measure, sources said on Tuesday.
Trudeau had said that Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between the Indian government agents and the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Nijjar. (Agencies)
