Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Sees ‘Tonal Shift’ In Relations With India After US Allegations
Following the US warning to New Delhi about its suspected involvement in a failed plan to murder a Sikh separatist leader on US grounds, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hinted a "tonal shift" in India's approach to Ottawa.
"I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can't bluster their way through this, and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," Trudeau told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
"There's an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada isn't going to make this problem go away," he said.
Trudeau said in the House of Commons in September that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the June murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, sparking a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Both parties expelled diplomats, potentially destabilising trade talks after New Delhi rejected Canada's claim.
The US Justice Department announced last month that an Indian government officer had orchestrated the attempt to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani separatist leader and dual citizen of the US and Canada.
India said it would formally investigate the US complaints and take 'appropriate follow-up action' on the findings of a panel convened on 18 November.
On India-Canada relations, Trudeau stated, "We don't want to be in a fight with India right now over this. We want to work on that trade agreement. We want to move the Indo-Pacific strategy forward."
"However, standing up for people's rights, safety, and the rule of law is fundamental to Canada." And that is exactly what we intend to do," he added.
India will look into any information: PM Modi
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India would investigate any evidence received about its alleged links to a failed plan to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in the United States.
"If someone gives us any information, we would look into it," Modi told the Financial Times. "If one of our citizens has done anything good or bad, we are ready to investigate it. We are committed to the rule of law."
