The RCMP chief is calling on members of the Sikh community to speak out as police continue to investigate allegations of links between the Indian government and violence in Canada.
On Monday, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhem publicly claimed that Indian government agents are involved in “widespread” acts of violence in Canada, including murder.
In an unusually long weekend press conference, Mr. Duhame alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada are involved in murder, extortion, intimidation and coercion against Canadians and residents.
Duhem told reporters that the military felt it necessary to come forward to disrupt networks operating in Canada, calling it a “grave threat to our public safety.” .
In an interview Tuesday with Radio-Canada, Duhame urged people with knowledge related to the RCMP investigation to come forward.
“If people come forward, we can help them. We ask them to come forward if they can,” he said.
“People come to Canada looking for safety. Our job as law enforcement is to make sure they are in a safe environment.”
Asked if the Indian diaspora should be concerned about their safety, Duhem said: “I want them to have trust and confidence in the jurisdiction of the police.”
Eight people have been charged with murder in Canada, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bridget Gauvin said Monday in response to questions about the investigation. He also said 22 people have been charged with extortion.
Mounties also said they had warned 13 Canadians since September 2023 that they could be targeted for harassment and intimidation by Indian agents. Some of these individuals have received multiple threats, Gauvin said.
Early Monday morning, Canada announced it would expel six Indian diplomats. India denied the RCMP’s claims and quickly retaliated by ordering six Canadian diplomats to leave the country within a week.
In a media statement, New Delhi denied the “absurd imposition” of Canada’s claims and said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was “pushing political agendas” centered on “vote bank politics” (a term used to refer to specific constituencies). ” accused of having. community.
strained relationship
The allegations weakened already strained relations between Canada and India. Tensions escalated last year after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi denied the allegations.
“I think it’s clear that the Indian government made a fundamental mistake in thinking it could support criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil,” Trudeau said Monday night.
“No country, especially a democratic country that upholds the rule of law, can tolerate such a fundamental violation of its sovereignty.”
Both countries have hinted at further punitive action as diplomatic relations deteriorate.
India said in a statement on Monday that it “reserves the right to take further action in response to the Government of Canada’s recent efforts to fabricate allegations against Indian diplomats.”
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she was in touch with G7 countries and that “everything is on the table.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for further diplomatic sanctions against India and urged an emergency meeting of the House of Commons Public Safety Committee to discuss the RCMP allegations.
Singh and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poièvre were briefed on Monday by the national security and intelligence adviser about the latest allegations, staffers said.
Mr. Singh went on to grill Mr. Poièvre for failing to obtain classified information that would have allowed him to read a classified version of an intelligence report on foreign interference last spring.
Among other things, a report by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Intelligence (NSICOP) alleges that foreign powers in India interfered in the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership election.
“Wanting to be the only leader who refuses to look at what’s going on when there are active threats against Canadians sends a message to India that there is one leader who is willing to look the other way. You’re sending it to the government,”’ Singh said.
“That’s very concerning to me.”