Nijjar case: no ocial communique from Canada, says MEA
Days after Canada arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here said that the Canadian authorities have informally communicated that the individuals are Indians but Ottawa has not provided any ‘oflcial communique’.
“Let me rst make it clear that no specic or relevant evidence or information has been shared by the Canadian authorities till date. You will therefore understand our view that the matter is being prejudged. Obviously, there are political interests at work. We have long maintained that separatists, extremists and those advocating violence have been given political space in Canada,” said MEA oflcial spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in the rst formal response on the matter.
Canada arrested Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, residents of Edmonton, last week in the Nijjar murder case that has affected ties between India and Canada. They have been charged with rst-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the crime. MEA oflcials, however, maintained that Canada is yet to share the details of the investigation behind the arrests indicating that the matter was conveyed to the Indian side through a “note verbale”.
Mr. Jaiswal’s remarks are the rst formal response on the matter that was also earlier dealt by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who had hinted at the possibility of involvement of gangs. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had caused sensation in September by claiming that Nijjar was killed in British Columbia by Indian agents.