Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had a “brief exchange” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a summit in Laos, a year after he accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist in British Columbia. said
Since Prime Minister Trudeau became a member of the House of Commons in September 2023 and relations have soured after Canada said it was pursuing “credible allegations” of links between India and the fatal accident, Prime Minister Modi This is the second time I have met him face to face.
Prime Minister Trudeau did not go into detail about what he said to Modi at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, but said he told Modi there were real issues that needed to be resolved.
“I emphasized that we have work to do,” Trudeau said at a news conference in Laos.
“I won’t go into detail about what we discussed, but I have said many times that keeping Canadians safe and protecting the rule of law is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the Canadian government. Yes, that’s what I think.’ Stay focused. ”
Nijal was shot to death by masked men outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June 2023. Four Indian nationals have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with his killing. This high-profile case is currently being heard in Canadian courts.
Just yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said relations between Canada and India are currently “strained” and “very difficult.” She said there was still a risk of more murders like Nijjar’s on mainland Canada.
She testified at the Foreign Interference Inquiry that she had asked for India to join the Canadian police investigation into Nijjar’s death, but so far that has not happened and she fears for the safety of other Canadians. He said there was. jolie said
“We are asking the Indian government to help us because ultimately we want to hold accountable all those involved in Nijjar’s murder, and we want to prevent further killings, especially since there is a threat. ” she said.
In response to a question from CBC News about the threat, Prime Minister Trudeau said the safety of Canadians is his top priority.
“Over the past few months, we have seen an alarming pattern of violence affecting Indo-Canadians across the country, and I can assure you that this issue will continue to be very concerning to us,” Trudeau said. said.
Prime Minister Trudeau made the comments at a press conference held in Vientiane, Laos, after the conclusion of the ASEAN Summit.
Prime Minister Modi also visited the summit and met with a series of world leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, one of Canada’s Five Eyes intelligence alliance partners.
Prime Minister Modi did not hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Trudeau. The prime minister’s office did not provide details about exactly when and where Trudeau and Modi will meet.
Tensions between the Canadian and Indian governments have been at an all-time high since the arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
India initially denied any involvement in the killing, calling the allegations “absurd” and accusing Canada of harboring violent extremists.
Prime Minister Trudeau said Friday he stands by his cause in Laos. He said national security and law enforcement agencies “remain deeply engaged in this matter.”
“What I want to say is that the statements I have made regarding credible allegations of Indian involvement in the deaths of Canadians on mainland Canada remain valid and continue to support the safety of Canadians in their homes and communities across Canada.” “There is still a responsibility as a government to keep the country safe,” he said.
After Canada made the allegations public, the United States reported it was investigating an alleged assassination plot involving ties to India and Niger.
unsealed US indictment In November 2023, authorities in New Delhi offered drug dealer Nikhil Gupta $100,000 to hire a hitman to kill Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannam, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, in New York. claimed to have done so. According to the U.S. indictment, New Delhi officials They also considered assigning Gupta the mission of killing Nijjar.
India has responded to the US claims by saying it has launched an investigation, but this is clearly different from its response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons. Bloomberg News reported in March that an Indian investigation had found that unsanctioned “rogue agents” were involved in the U.S. case.
Prime Minister Trudeau did not comment on the differences between India’s response to the U.S. allegations and Canada’s in response to questions from CBC News in Laos.
On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the Indian government publicly accused him of involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Modi last spoke face-to-face in June at the G7 summit in Italy. The prime minister’s office described the exchange as a “brief discussion regarding bilateral relations” but did not provide further details.
Prime Minister Trudeau told CBC News. In July he saw room for involvement After Mr. Modi’s re-election, he partnered with India. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada “needs to continue to develop our trade relationships and our people-to-people relationships, but there are real issues that need to be resolved and we will continue to focus on that.”
Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to testify Wednesday in Ottawa at an ongoing public inquiry into foreign interference and could face further questions about the Indian threat.
