Nijjar massacre controversy: 'It confirms what we have been saying' – India hits back at Justin Trudeau's statement

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has put the entire responsibility for the deteriorating relations between India and Canada on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The statement comes after Trudeau testified before the commission of inquiry, where he admitted he had no 'concrete evidence' when alleging the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

On Thursday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement in response to media questions about Trudeau's statement, some details of which had emerged in media reports. In its statement, the MEA reiterated India's long-standing stand that Canada has not been successful in presenting any evidence to support the serious allegations made by it.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed, “What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying all along – that Canada will not provide us with any evidence to support the serious allegations made against India and Indian diplomats.” No proof has been provided.”

The Foreign Ministry said that diplomatic consequences are Trudeau's

The Indian government has put the responsibility on Trudeau for the damage caused to India-Canada relations. The Foreign Ministry said, “Prime Minister Trudeau alone bears responsibility for the damage caused to India-Canada relations by this reckless behavior.”

This comes after Trudeau made claims to a public inquiry that Indian diplomats were allegedly collecting information about Canadians opposing the Narendra Modi government, and that this information was being shared at the highest levels within the Indian government and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Like it was being given to criminal organizations.

India rejects allegations linking agents to criminal gangs

India has strongly refuted attempts by Canadian authorities to link Indian agents to criminal gangs in Canada. Sources in New Delhi rejected Ottawa's claim that it has shared evidence with India in the Nijjar case, saying it is “absolutely not true.” Additionally, Trudeau's previous allegations accusing India of carrying out covert operations targeting Canadian citizens were also rejected.

Increase in diplomatic tensions

In response to the growing diplomatic row, India earlier this week expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its high commissioner to Canada. Ottawa then accused Indian diplomats of linking them to the investigation into Nijjar's murder. The diplomatic dispute marks a significant deterioration in already strained relations between the two countries.

The diplomatic row began in September last year when Trudeau accused India of “possible” involvement in the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen declared a terrorist by India. Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. India has consistently rejected these allegations as “absurd” and has said that the main issue between the two countries is Canada's tolerance towards pro-Khalistan elements operating without fear from Canadian soil.