India’s Excessive Commissioner to Canada denies any involvement within the homicide of Canadian Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot and killed in B.C. final yr.
“Nothing in any respect,” Sanjay Kumar Verma answered, when requested instantly about his alleged connection within the killing, in an unique interview on CTV’s Query Interval, airing Sunday.
“No proof offered. Politically motivated,” he additionally mentioned.
And when requested by host Vassy Kapelos whether or not the Indian authorities has ever been concerned within the concentrating on of sure people, with an finish objective of their loss of life, Verma mentioned: “By no means.”
Verma’s feedback come simply days after the RCMP and the federal authorities accused Indian diplomats and consular officers based mostly in Canada of participating in clandestine actions linked to severe felony exercise on this nation, together with homicides and extortions.
It’s additionally been little greater than a yr since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rose within the Home of Commons and mentioned there have been “credible allegations” that brokers of the Indian authorities have been concerned in Nijjar’s homicide. Relations between the 2 nations have been tense ever since.
In response to Monday’s allegations, Canada expelled six diplomats, together with Verma. India kicked out six Canadian diplomats in retaliation.
“The choice to expel these people was made with nice consideration and solely after the RCMP gathered ample, clear and concrete proof which recognized six people as individuals of curiosity within the Nijjar case,” mentioned Canadian Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Joly in a press release on Monday.
When offered with Joly’s verbatim rationalization by Kapelos, Verma accused her of “speaking politically.”
“Let me see the concrete proof she’s speaking about,” he mentioned. “So far as I am involved, she’s speaking politically. As I am involved, she has obtained nothing in her hand.”
Verma additionally explicitly mentioned he condemns Nijjar’s homicide, when requested instantly by Kapelos.
“Any homicide is incorrect and dangerous. I do condemn and that’s what I’ve mentioned in lots of interviews. Let’s unravel the problem,” Verma mentioned.
‘Not a shred of proof’ shared
‘Not a shred of proof’ shared
Since Trudeau’s tackle to the Home of Commons final September, Indian officers have refused to co-operate in an investigation.
Requested why India continues to be refusing to co-operate, regardless of these new accusations, Verma claimed “not a shred of proof has been shared with us.”
“Sadly, we now have not obtained something from any Canadian official, which may lead us to a greater spot,” he mentioned.
In keeping with the RCMP, Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn made makes an attempt earlier this month to satisfy together with his Indian counterparts to current proof, however these makes an attempt have been unsuccessful.
Flynn, together with Nationwide Safety and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) Nathalie Drouin and Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs David Morrison then met with Indian authorities officers over the weekend, previous to Monday’s allegations, to share proof and urge their co-operation, however India refused to waive diplomatic immunity for Verma and his 5 different colleagues in order that they might be questioned.
Requested by Kapelos why Indian officers have been unwilling to see the proof, Verma mentioned “correct visas weren’t there.”
“Visas must be affixed for any delegation,” he mentioned. “For any authorities delegation to journey to a different nation, you want an agenda to go by. There was no agenda in any respect.”
“So subsequently, it was largely technical,” he added.
When pressed repeatedly by Kapelos whether or not that rationalization leaves “Canadians with the impression that (the Indian) authorities does have one thing to cover,” Verma insisted “completely not.”
“In truth, we now have been asking for (proof) for the final one yr, which the RCMP has additionally mentioned,” Verma mentioned. “After which if you don’t share with us the explanation to your go to, how do we all know?”
In an interview additionally airing Sunday on CTV’s Query Interval, Canada’s Excessive Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay mentioned he can “conclusively” say Canadian officers have had “conferences at a number of ranges” since August 2023 to try to share data with India.
“There is no doubt in my thoughts that we now have shared greater than ample data and proof with the Indian aspect thus far at each stage of the Canadian authorities and the Indian authorities,” MacKay mentioned.
India, in the meantime, is cooperating in a U.S. investigation in a foiled assassination plot final yr to homicide Sikh activist and twin U.S.-Canadian citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York Metropolis. On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Division introduced felony fees towards an Indian authorities worker after an Indian authorities committee investigating the case visited Washington this week. The unsealed indictment additionally connects that assassination try and Nijjar’s case.
Requested by Kapelos concerning the linked circumstances, Verma repeatedly rebuffed any connection, including an “indictment will not be a conviction.”
“And subsequently, logically, it’s going to comply with its judicial course of,” he mentioned.
MacKay mentioned he believes India is responding to Canada and the U.S. in another way for its personal home political causes.
“India has elaborated a type of a false distinction between what has occurred in the USA and what has occurred in Canada, and it has been very profitable for them by way of home media protection, however internationally, I do not suppose that is the case,” MacKay informed Kapelos.
Allegations of gathering data by way of coercion
Allegations of gathering data by way of coercion
On Monday, the RCMP additionally accused Indian diplomats of leveraging their positions to coerce people and companies to gather data for the Authorities of India on pro-Khalistan activists.
Verma additionally denied these claims.
“I, as Excessive Commissioner of India, have by no means carried out something of that sort. That’s one,” Verma mentioned. “Second, my colleagues, can we wish to know what pro-Khalistani parts in Canada are doing? Sure, we do. That is my nationwide curiosity.”
However when requested by Kapelos if the means used to gather that data have been authorized or unlawful, Verma mentioned the gathering of that data “is all overt.”
“There may be nothing covert. It is all overt,” Verma mentioned. “So we learn the newspapers, we learn their statements, since we perceive Punjabi. So we learn their social media posts, and attempt to infer from there.”
The Khalistan motion helps the institution of an unbiased Sikh state in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his authorities has lengthy condemned that motion and has been crucial of Canada for not opposing Sikh separatism inside its personal borders.
With recordsdata from CTV Information’ Brennan MacDonald and Spencer Van Dyk
You may watch the Excessive Commissioner’s full interview on CTV’s Query Interval at 11 a.m. EST.
