Shillong, September 22: Harjit Singh Sajjan, a prominent Indian-origin Canadian Sikh minister, has revealed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly discussed allegations implicating India in the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar because he learned that the story was about to be covered in the media.
Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Singh Sajjan, a former defense minister, stated in an interview with CBC Radio that Trudeau’s intention was to ensure Canadians had “accurate information” about the story before it gained media attention.
Regarding the evidence related to the allegations, Sajjan emphasized that it would be “very inappropriate” for him to discuss it, as a police investigation is currently underway.
“When it comes to the evidence, it’s the police that hold the evidence. And they, alone, decide the next actions on this,” Sajjan explained during the radio interview.
He also assured that the decision for the prime minister to make these statements was made in full consultation with the relevant agencies involved.
Sajjan had earlier conveyed that their primary focus is to ensure that Nijjar’s family receives justice, and the government’s priority is the safety of Canadians.
On Thursday, Trudeau reiterated his allegations that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing. He emphasized that Ottawa is not seeking to “provoke” India or “cause problems.”
Trudeau called for New Delhi’s cooperation in the investigations into Nijjar’s killing and mentioned having a “direct and frank conversation” with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit earlier this month, during which he shared his concerns on the matter.
