At G20 meet, Biden raised Nijjar killing controversy with PM Modi

The ongoing controversy between Ottawa and New Delhi about the killing of Khalistani terrorists could make a negative thing for Ottawa in terms of trade Indo-Pacific institutions.

On September 18, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told his Parliament, “Over the past number of weeks Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.” But New Delhi completely denied this fact saying them “absurd” and “motivated“.

During the G20 summit, Joe Biden, ‘Five Eyes‘ members raised the issue of Khalistani activist Nijjar’s murder with Modi in the fact that the Canadian Government alleged that New Delhi or India has a connection with the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Many members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, including the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, had raised the issue with Modi during the summit. The G20 summit was held earlier this month in India, just days before Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian parliament that the Indian government probably had links to the murder of the Khalistani activist Najjar.

“Biden felt it was important to address the issue directly with his Indian counterpart. The White House declined to comment on whether Biden had discussed the issue with Modi at the G20. The leaders intervened at the G20 Summit after Canada urged its allies to raise the case directly with Modi, said two people familiar with the situation, who added Ottawa asked them to mention the claims in private,” the ft reported.

“Canada’s Five Eyes partners could re-evaluate intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation with India if Canadian officials uncover definitive proof of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s murder,” said Canada Institute Associate Xavier Delgado.