Pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Credit: Twitter/@BCSikhs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's aide has assured the Indian government of 'all help' in the matter of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, News18 reported.
His comments come amid allegations that Canadian MP from Surrey Sukhminder aka Sukh Singh Dhaliwal, is close to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has allegedly been involved in Nijjar's death.
Dhaliwal also told the publication "as a Member of Parliament, I would not stay close to any member of foreign agencies. Whoever is giving you this information is totally wrong and irresponsible."
The MP also refuted the claim that Trudeau had raised the matter of Nijjar's killing after returning to his country from the G20 Summit hosted in Delhi on September 9 and 10.
Dhaliwal said that before Trudeau's Delhi visit, his government had already raised the issue with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
After returning, "the very first day when Parliament opened after the summer break, he (Trudeau) made the statement that a foreign state agent was involved in the killing of Nijjar", Dhaliwal reportedly said, adding that it was clear the "foreign agent" involved in the killing was from an "Indian agency".
Notably, the Canadian government has not provided any evidence thus far to back up its allegations, despite the Indian government's insistence on the same. Dhaliwal, when asked this, replied "There is an evidence that will be shared in court. He (Trudeau) does not want to mess up the justice system. He is a firm believer in justice. The Prime Minister of Canada will not make such a statement. The Five Eyes are standing with us".
The Five Eyes refers to the intelligence alliance that includes the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Dhaliwal, who is also the Chairperson of Immigration Committee, continued that Canada has always "cooperated" with India, and responded to the Indian government's charges that notorious Indian criminal gangs operate in Canada. "Who gave them the fake passports? India. Who is messing up our country, it is India," he charged.
The MP also countered India's claims that New Delhi has sent 24 Letter Rogatory to Ottawa, saying he had not received any LRs from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) nor did he have any discussions with them.
Dhaliwal noted that if the Indian government provides evidence of gang activities or criminal activities, the Trudeau government would cooperate on the matter. Speaking to the publication, the MP continued that despite India and Canada sharing good relations it is the "killing of a Canadian citizen on a Canadian soil and at a place of worship, which is bothering (them)".
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside a Surrey gurudwara on June 18 by gunmen. He was designated a terrorist by India in 2020 and was involved in networking, financing, and training the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) module.