Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday termed as baseless Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations against India in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Singh said in 2018 when Trudeau visited Amritsar, he had brought to the notice of the prime minister as to how the Canadian land was used by Khalistani elements against India.
"The claims by the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau that there was an Indian hand in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjer are completely baseless... During his visit to Amritsar in 2018, I had brought to the notice of Justin Trudeau as to how the Canadian land was being used against India, still the Canadian govt failed to take any remedial measures so far,” Singh wrote on X.
Nijjar was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.
Trudeau's allegations of "potential" Indian links to the killing of Nijjar has worsened the relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa, with both both countries expelling each others’ top diplomats on Tuesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Trudeau’s "unsubstantiated" allegations seek to "shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The ties between India and Canada have come under strain in view of New Delhi's concerns over increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in that country. Last week, the talks on a bilateral free trade agreement were frozen apparently in view of the deteriorating ties.
