"It's Not India's Policy": Foreign Minister S Jaishankar Responds To Canada's Allegations On India (Image:www.twitter.com/sjaishankar)

India”s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday opened up about the ongoing row between India and Canada over the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and clarified that it is “not the Indian government”s policy” to engage in such activities. He also avoided giving a direct answer to questions on whether India had received specific evidence on intercepted communications from Canada.

The minister was responding to a question during an interaction at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, moderated by former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, on Tuesday.

“Yes, I do have a comment. I’ll share with you very frankly what we told the Canadians. One, we told the Canadians that this is not the Government of India’s policy. Two, we told the Canadians that look, if you have something specific, if you have something relevant, let us know. We are open to looking at it”, said Mr Jaishankar.

A discussion at @cfr_org with Amb Kenneth Juster https://t.co/QT1RZ7e3i0

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 26, 2023

It was recently, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the murder of pro-Khalistani Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is an extraterritorial assassination operated by the Indian government. Mr Trudeau initiated an investigation on the matter with the help of Canadian Intelligence agencies. India has earlier dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.

The row got more worsened as both of the country expelled its senior diplomats. India also suspended visa services in Canada citing ‘operational reasons’, and the National Investigative Agency (NIA) issued three separate requests demanding information from the public to identify ten wanted Khalistani extremists accused in San Francisco Indian Consulate attack case.

The Foreign minister also expressed that India is willing to look into the matter if Canada provides specific or relevant information and evidences to substantiate their allegation. “I have said that if somebody gives us specific or relevant information, we’re prepared to look at it”, the minister said.

Mr Jaishankar refused to comment on the reports sharing of intelligence between Five Eyes countries on Mr Nijjar’s killing, saying that “I am not part of The Five Eyes”. The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US, and the UK.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and was gunned down by unidentified assailants, on June 18, 2023 outside a gurdwara in British Columbia.

As per the records of India’s NIA, an investigation agency, the 45-year old Nijjar was an ‘absconder’, and carried a substantial cash reward of Rs 10 lakhs on his head. He was also designated by the Indian government as a ‘terrorist’ under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).