Canada: Indian High Commissioner dismisses allegations against India in Hardeep Nijjar case

Ontario: The Indian High Commission to Canada has refuted allegations of India’s involvement in the killing of alleged Khalistan activist Hardeep Nijjar. India's High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has given a strong response to the allegations.

What did the Indian High Commissioner say?

"Where is the evidence?" Dinesh Patnaik asked while addressing the media on Wednesday.

The matter is related to the assassination of terrorist Nijjar. Nijjar was killed in Canada, and former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau had alleged the involvement of Indian agencies in the killing. 

"When India makes allegations, you demand evidence, but when you make allegations, you want India to be considered guilty without any evidence. Is this fair?" Patnaik said during a television interview.

Dinesh Patnaik was giving an interview on CBS, a Canadian public broadcaster. He accused Canadian authorities of failing to take action against terrorist elements operating on their soil for 40 years. Patnaik said that Ottawa's prolonged inaction has created a conducive environment for extremism and violence targeting India.

He further added, "The same thing happens here. When you make allegations against us, you want everything to be accepted without evidence.  So, you need evidence for my allegations, but not for yours, is that right?"

Dinesh Patnaik said, "The law states that a person is innocent until proven guilty. When you make allegations, you have to provide evidence. You can't say, 'I accuse you, and now you have to prove your innocence.' That's a simple rule of law."

What did the Indian High Commissioner say about the available evidence?

The Indian High Commissioner to Canada said that those who conduct referendums here are wanted for terrorist activities there. 

"Canada tells us that the evidence is insufficient. I say, 'Okay, if I get more evidence, I will give it to you.' But when you accuse India, and we say that the evidence is insufficient, then you should accept our response in the same way that we accepted yours," he said. 

“India never engages in illegal activities, and if you provide any evidence of such activities, we will take action. Beyond that, we have said nothing.”

He added that some elements in Canada glorify murderers and are involved in hate crimes.  

“Whatever negative activity you can think of, they are doing it. When we inform the Canadian government about this, and some people were recently apprehended, your previous government denied it, saying there wasn't enough evidence against them,” he said.

It's worth noting that relations between India and Canada are improving after a long period of strain. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed a desire to restart relations and has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India. Negotiations on a major economic partnership agreement between the two countries may also resume.