India Canada Row: Canada's Defence Minister stresses importance of relationship but cautions on Nijjar's killing allegations
Toronto, September 24: Canada's Defence Minister, Bill Blair, emphasised the importance of the relationship with India while addressing the ongoing investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Tensions between the two countries escalated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of potential Indian involvement in Nijjar's murder on Canadian soil in British Columbia on June 18. India had previously designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.
India swiftly rejected the allegations, deeming them "absurd" and "motivated," and responded by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa had expelled an Indian official over the case.
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Canada had been actively seeking stronger trade, defense, and immigration ties with India before Trudeau's revelations. In an interview on The West Block, Blair indicated that Canada would continue to pursue these partnerships despite the ongoing investigation, underscoring the significance of the relationship with India.
Blair stated, "We understand that this can be, and has proven to be, a challenging issue with respect to our relationship with India. But at the same time, we have a responsibility to defend the law, defend our citizens, and at the same time make sure that we conduct a thorough investigation and get to the truth."
He further added that if the allegations were substantiated, it would raise significant concerns about Canada's sovereignty in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.
Blair reaffirmed the importance of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing its critical role in the nation's foreign policy. The strategy has led to an increased military presence in the region and commitments for further patrol capabilities, with an investment of USD 492.9 million over five years dedicated to military priorities, out of a total budget of nearly USD 2.3 billion over the same period.
In response to the escalating tensions, India urged Canada to take decisive action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from Canadian soil and suspended visa services for Canadians. India also requested Canada to reduce the size of its diplomatic staff in the country, emphasising the need for parity and rank equivalence in diplomatic representation, as the Canadian diplomatic presence in India exceeded that of India in Canada. The bilateral relationship between the two nations reached an unprecedented low due to the ongoing dispute over Nijjar's killing.
- With inputs from agencies
