Nijjar killing: US seems to be supporting Canada more; alleges India not cooperating the way it should

Terming the Canadian allegations concerning the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar against India as “extremely serious”, the US has asked the latter to do more to address the issue.

“When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear that the allegations are extremely serious and they need to be taken seriously. And we wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was quoted as saying in reports.

“Obviously, they (India) have not…they have chosen an alternate path,” he added.

India, however, has made it clear on numerous occasions that the allegations by Canada were “absurd”.

A few days ago, India and Canada expelled each other’s ambassadors.

The development followed Canadian allegation that Indian involvement in a campaign against Sikh separatists went beyond a point, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying India had made a “fundamental error.”

Also read: https://tfipost.com/2024/10/canadian-pm-straining-relations-with-india-to-stay-relevant/

Tensions sky rocketed since Canada alleged that the Indian government was involved in killing Nijjar, an advocate for an independent Sikh state who had immigrated from India to Canada and become a citizen, outside a Sikh temple last year.

Interestingly, the US too had alleged a similar, albeit unsuccessful, assassination plot by India on its soil. The US, however, did not make much hue and cry and it and handled the issue quietly.

Indian team in the US

Meanwhile, an Indian “Enquiry Committee” constituted in response to the US allegations was in Washington to discuss the case, a State Department official told media.

“(India) has informed the United States they are continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow up steps, as necessary,” the US State Department said.

“The fact that they sent an Enquiry Committee here, I think, demonstrates that they are taking this seriously,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was quoted as saying in the reports.

The relations between the US and India have improved during the past two decades as the latter sees New Delhi as a natural partner.