New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is visiting India
New Delhi:
India and Canada are locked in a diplomatic standoff over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations that India was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorists, with a key ally of Ottawa questioning the lack of evidence of New Delhi’s involvement.
Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, told The Indian Express In interviews, Canada did not share any evidence substantiating its allegations.
At the heart of the diplomatic spat between India and Canada is the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45), the leader of the banned Khalistan Tigers and a wanted terrorist in India one. In June, Nijar was shot and killed outside a monastery in British Columbia, Canada.
In September last year, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau stated in Parliament shortly after attending the G20 Summit in India that Canadian security agencies were “actively pursuing credible allegations of possible links between Indian government agents and the killing of Canadian citizens.” Hardeep Singh Nijar”. India dismissed the accusations as “ridiculous” and “motivated.” Bilateral relations between the two countries have since taken a nosedive. In October, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats, citing India’s Threatening to “unethically revoke” their diplomatic immunity. India subsequently denied claims that it had violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It said in a statement: “The status of our bilateral relations, the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India Much more, and their continued interference in our internal affairs, ensures equal reciprocal diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. “
The United States, an ally of Canada and India, said Washington DC has engaged the Indian government on the issue. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We have been consulting very closely with our Canadian colleagues on this issue, not just consulting and coordinating with them. From our perspective, it is critical that Canada’s investigation continues , and it is very important that India cooperates with Canada in this investigation.”
In fact, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen said in an interview last year that “shared intelligence” among partners in the Five Eyes alliance, the intelligence alliance of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, helped Canada craft the prime minister’s decision. (Trudeau’s) statement.”
In response to a question about whether Canada shared information about Nijar’s case with its Five Eyes allies, Peters said the case was handled by New Zealand’s previous government.
The 78-year-old, who is visiting India, became deputy prime minister last November after New Zealand’s centre-right party came to power.
“I’m not here, this was handled by the previous government. But you see, sometimes when you hear the Five Eyes message, you don’t say anything and it passes you by. You don’t know the value or the quality”, But you’re glad to have it. You don’t know if there will be substantial material value or nothing. But very, very important information… This was largely handled by the previous administration. “
“As a trained lawyer, I look pretty good, so where is the case? Where is the evidence? Where are the findings now? Well, no,” he said.
This is the first time a Five Eyes partner has challenged Canada’s accusations.
Mr Peters met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his trip to India and visited Gujarat.
