Amid a diplomatic row with Canada over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday took a veiled jibe at Ottawa, saying political convenience should not determine response to terrorism.
“Nor must be countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism and violence,” the EAM said during the General Debate of the 78th session of UNGA in New York.
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
India has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Canada shared with India “many weeks ago” evidence that it may have been behind the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil and wants New Delhi to commit constructively with Ottawa to establish the facts in the “very serious matter.” Trudeau, however, did not elaborate on the evidence that he says has been shared with India.
When asked about Canada sharing any information in the case with India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said: “No specific information has been shared by Canada on this case, either then or before or after. We have, you know, as we have said, or I think we have made very clear, we are willing to look at any specific information.” “We have conveyed this to the Canadian side and made it clear to them that we are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us. But so far we have not received any such specific information,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi.
