Separatist terrorists are Canada's deep assets, claims Indian envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma

PTC News Desk: Indian envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma, recently recalled amidst rising tensions between India and Canada over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder investigation, has accused Khalistani extremists of being "deep assets" of the Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In a pointed interview with Canada’s CTV News, Verma claimed that the Justin Trudeau government has consistently supported Khalistani extremists, further deepening the diplomatic strain between the two nations.

Verma stated, "This is my allegation, and I believe that some of these Khalistani extremists and terrorists are deep assets of CSIS, though I’m not providing any direct evidence." His remarks come as India refutes Canada's allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist, whom Canada claims was targeted by Indian agents. India has dismissed the accusations as "absurd and politically motivated."

The Justin Trudeau government has yet to present concrete evidence to back its claims, despite repeated requests from India. Trudeau recently acknowledged during an inquiry that the allegations were based on intelligence reports rather than solid proof, fueling skepticism about the validity of the accusations.

During the interview, Verma emphasised the importance of Canadian authorities addressing India's core concerns regarding the Khalistani extremist issue. He urged the Justin Trudeau government to distance itself from those challenging Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We only ask the Canadian government to sincerely understand India's concerns, rather than aligning with forces seeking to undermine Indian sovereignty," Verma asserted.

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Verma highlighted that Khalistani extremists in Canada, many of whom are Canadian citizens, are attempting to destabilise another sovereign nation. "What happens in India should be decided by Indian citizens, not Canadian citizens who are challenging the sovereignty of another country," he added.

Verma also rejected all accusations against him in relation to Nijjar's murder, maintaining that the claims were politically motivated and unsupported by evidence. He categorically denied any involvement in directing or coercing individuals to gather intelligence on pro-Khalistani activists, including Nijjar. "As India’s High Commissioner, I have never engaged in such activities," Verma stated.

Regarding India's approach to monitoring Khalistani extremists in Canada, Verma clarified that his team’s intelligence is gathered from open sources, including media and social media platforms. "We read their statements, newspapers, and social media posts to understand their activities. Since we understand Punjabi, we infer from their content," he explained.

Relations between India and Canada have hit a significant low since the Justin Trudeau government labeled Indian diplomats as "persons of interest" in the Nijjar murder investigation. In response, India recalled its senior diplomats and expelled six top Canadian officials from the country, signaling a deep diplomatic rift between the two governments.

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