India denounces Canada’s handling of criminal extradition amid diplomatic standoff - Greater Kashmir

New Delhi, Oct 17: At a weekly media briefing today, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed Canada’s reluctance to extradite Indian origin criminals linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The gang, based in India, has been involved in organised crime across both nations. “We find it really strange that people we asked to be deported are now committing crimes in Canada, for which India is being blamed,” Jaiswal remarked. He highlighted the long-standing issue, noting that “26 extradition requests have been pending for a decade or more, along with several probational requests.”

India’s concerns about Canada’s handling of organised crime are unfolding against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions. Jaiswal highlighted that India values its trade and people-to-people ties with Canada, particularly given the significant number of Indian students residing there. However, he attributed the current crisis to the Canadian government’s actions, stating, “The situation has been precipitated entirely by the Trudeau government.”

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have deteriorated since September 2023, following the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada that India has declared him terrorist. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of involvement in the killing—a charge that India has consistently denied. Addressing this at the briefing, Jaiswal reiterated India’s stance: “There is no shred of evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder.”

Jaiswal continued, emphasising that despite repeated allegations from Canada, no concrete evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims. “Their allegations are politically motivated. There’s a clear pattern to smear India for reasons best known to them,” he added.

As tensions escalated, India withdrew its diplomats from Canada, citing safety concerns, which was followed by Canada’s expulsion of Indian officials, equally India asked six of the Canadian diplomats to leave the country by Saturday, intensifying the strained relations.

Yesterday, Trudeau’s testimony before a public inquiry further inflamed the situation, as he admitted there was no hard proof but only intelligence-based information linking Indian agents to Nijjar’s killing.

India has steadfastly maintained that the allegations lack credibility. “The responsibility for the damage to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” Jaiswal said, reaffirming that India has shown restraint in the face of Ottawa’s provocative actions.

The diplomatic standoff remains unresolved, with both nations standing firm on their narratives. India continues to express concern over pro-Khalistan elements operating in Canada, a core issue that has strained ties for years, now exacerbated by the ongoing feud over Nijjar’s death.