Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada acknowledged the controversy surrounding the June 18, 2018, murder of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, but emphasised the value of cordial ties between India and Canada.
In an interview with reporters speaking Punjabi in Toronto, Trudeau emphasised the importance of both nations being the biggest democracies in the world, saying, “Canada and India are the two largest democracies in the world, us by size, them by people. And I think we can get along.”
In his response, Trudeau said, “It’s a problem in our relations with India because we cannot ignore that,” acknowledging the impact of Nijjar’s killing on those ties.
His comments came after attending a Khalsa Day event in Toronto, marked by the presence of pro-Khalistan elements and anti-India sentiments. Trudeau reiterated Canada’s stance on peaceful expression of beliefs, stating, “You get to support whatever beliefs you have, that’s part of what makes Canada a free country.”
Regarding India’s concerns over the Vaisakhi parade, Trudeau affirmed Canada’s commitment to addressing such concerns seriously but emphasized that political protests are allowed within the country.
Trudeau reiterated Canada’s stance against terrorism and violence while describing India as an important partner in various domains, including people-to-people relations, business ties, and cooperation on global issues like climate change. However, he indicated that the matter of Nijjar’s murder would continue to strain relations until resolved satisfactorily, stating, “We want to get through this challenging situation but there needs to be accountability.”
Relations between the two countries faced a setback in September following Trudeau’s remarks in the House of Commons regarding “credible allegations” of potential links between Indian agents and Nijjar’s killing.