Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said that India is not cooperating with the Canadian investigation into the murder of Khalistani separatist leader and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar because there is a disparity in the information shared by Ottawa.
The Indian high commissioner said that India is cooperating with the US in the investigation into an alleged thwarted assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, another separatist-terrorist leader who leads the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group, another radical outfit backing the Khalistani cause.
Verma told Canadian broadcaster CTV that India is working with the US in the case because the Americans have shared more specific information with India.
International news agencies reported that the US informed India that it “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” American-Canadian Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil.
“The investigation in the case of the US… As far as I know and understand, I presume that there would be better information shared within India,” Sanjay Kumar Verma told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos.
“There is no specific or relevant information for us to look into,” Verma reiterated, referring to cooperation between Canada and India with respect to the investigation into Nijjar’s killing.
“We are treating these guys like terrorists. They are terrorists because they are raising their funds in Canada, sending it across to the gangsters and gangs in India, who are doing illegal activities in India,” Verma further added, and told the Canadian journalist that India shared its concerns with Canada regarding these issues.
“There are red corner notices, which went through the Interpol. And by the way, one of the recording notices was for Nijjar, who was shot down. So, we have shared all (of) these things and Interpol certainly will not forward anything without the evidence being submitted. We have given all the documentation that we had and I hope to hear back from Canada soon,” Verma further added.
India and Canada relations have taken a hit after Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, said India has played a role in the killing of Nijjar, who was shot dead in a parking lot outside a gurdwara in Surrey.