Carney Visits India; ‘RAW Involved in Nijjar Assassination’ Reports Canadian Media

In an attempt to restore their diplomatic relations after tensions that had escalated since Sep 2023 and to further trade, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited India from 27 Feb–2 Mar. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Carney agreed on a wide-ranging set of measures to deepen economic cooperation. Among the agreements is a long-term CAD 2.6B uranium supply deal, which is supposed to bolster India’s energy security as it comes under pressure from the US. Plans for an expanded economic partnership could also boost trade and investment between the two nations. Cooperation in areas such as critical minerals, clean energy, space, and higher education promises new opportunities for India. Ahead of Carney’s visit, Canadian officials said that they believed India is no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada. However, the statement is belied by the head of Sikh Federation of Canada, Moninder Singh, who said the Vancouver Police Department delivered him a ‘caution’—a formal warning—on 22 Feb. Moninder said the officer informed him that police were tipped off on the threat from a confidential informant and his ‘wife and children were also deemed to be at risk’. Meanwhile, a Canadian media has reported that national security officials were presented with evidence that Indian consular staff operating in Vancouver had supplied information to assist in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The case is being heard in Canadian courts. The reports alleged that an Indian official, working as a visa officer in the consulate, used his position to gather information about Nijjar from members of the Indian diaspora in Surrey, British Columbia (BC). Canadian authorities believe the visa officer Kanwaljit Singh also worked for India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Information about Nijjar was then passed to Vikash Yadav, another RAW officer in New Delhi, who communicated it to the Lawrence Bishnoi group. Yadav is already under scrutiny over the murder-for-hire case to assassinate Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. A coalition of Sikh groups, including the Gurdwara councils of BC, Ontario, and Quebec have written to 20 Canadian Members of Parliament across parties asking for a full disclosure of evidence and a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Nijjar's assassination (earlier coverage).