In a startling admission during a public inquiry on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that there was no “hard evidentiary proof” linking Indian government agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The acknowledgment comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, which have been escalating since 2023 when Trudeau first made the allegations.
Speaking at the inquiry focused on foreign interference in Canada’s federal elections and democratic institutions, Trudeau disclosed that his claims about India’s involvement in Nijjar’s murder were based on intelligence rather than solid evidence.
“I was briefed on the fact that there was intelligence from Canada, and possibly from Five Eyes allies, that made it fairly clear, incredibly clear, that India was involved in this… Agents of the government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil,” Trudeau said during his testimony.
The Five Eyes Intelligence Network
The Five Eyes network, consisting of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, specializes in surveillance and signals intelligence (SIGINT). According to Trudeau, intelligence gathered from this alliance was concerning enough to take the issue seriously.
ALSO READ: ‘India using Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani elements’: Canada police
Trudeau further alleged that Indian diplomats were involved in monitoring Canadians critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, passing information to Indian officials and criminal organizations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The gang has been accused of violence against pro-Khalistani activists in Canada.
The Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated as a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) later linked six Indian diplomats to a plot involving Nijjar’s assassination. Reports also suggest that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was allegedly working in collaboration with Indian government agents.
Diplomatic Fallout Between Canada and India
The tensions between Canada and India have reached new heights since Trudeau’s accusations. India retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats and recalling its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma. The Indian government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing and criticized Canada for failing to provide substantive evidence.
“Our response was, well, it’s within your security agencies,” Trudeau stated, recounting Canada’s interactions with India. “At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof. So, we said, let’s work together and look into your security services.”
During the G20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, Trudeau confronted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging India’s involvement. In response, PM Modi expressed concerns about pro-Khalistani individuals in Canada and called for their arrest.
India’s Sharp Rebuttal
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly rejected Trudeau’s allegations, stating that no evidence had been provided. “The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” the MEA remarked.
India has also dismissed accusations that High Commissioner Verma was a “person of interest” in the murder investigation, calling the claims “preposterous imputations.” Canada reportedly implicated Verma in its probe into Nijjar’s death, further intensifying the diplomatic rift.
Trudeau’s Admission: A “Major Win” for India?
Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman described Trudeau’s admission as a “major win for the Indian narrative.” Bordman highlighted that Canada’s aggressive stance, which included expelling Indian diplomats, has been tempered by Trudeau’s recent remarks.
“This is a pretty big win for the Indian narrative… We had gone pretty hard. We had kicked out a diplomat and named the Indian High Commission,” said Bordman.
However, the underlying issue remains unresolved, with the core disagreement revolving around Nijjar’s identity. While India views him as a Khalistani terrorist, many in Canada see him as a community activist. This critical difference continues to fuel tensions between the two nations.
