India Canada Relation: Following allegations from the United States that it had thwarted an assassination attempt against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a New York-based organisation advocating for an independent Sikh state within India, Canada requested increased cooperation from India in its investigation into the death of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia.
US Developments Highlight Concerns
“The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we’ve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Nikhil Gupta Accused of Orchestrating Murder for Sikh Leader
The 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, who had collaborated with an Indian government employee, was charged by the US Justice Department earlier on Wednesday for allegedly planning to hire a hit man to kill Pannun. The US charges came about two months after Canada accepted “credible” claims that Indian agents were responsible for the June murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb; India has refuted this accusation.
Trudeau Urges Indian Government to Join Efforts in Unraveling the Truth
Speaking on the importance of cooperation, Trudeau said, “The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we’re getting to the bottom of this.” On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly emphasised that more cooperation is expected and urged India to be more transparent in the ongoing murder investigation.
Accusations Complicate US and Canada’s Efforts in the Indo-Pacific
These accusations make it more difficult for the US and Canada to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific by fortifying their ties with India. With Canada’s murder investigation still ongoing and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gearing up for May’s national elections, the likelihood of New Delhi and Ottawa reconciling seems remote.
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