Diplomatic Fracas as Canada Names Verma ‘Person of Interest’ in Nijjar Killing

Over 12-13 Oct, Canada named the Indian High Commissioner in Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma as a ‘person of interest’ in its investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing (SDW Vol 1 Issue 1, Story 1). India swiftly hit back on 14 Oct, saying it, ‘strongly rejects these preposterous imputations.’ After that, Canada ordered six Indian diplomats to leave the country. The Washington Post said, ‘Officials described an official ‘chain’ in which Indian diplomats in Canada collect intelligence on alleged Sikh separatists that is then used by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing, an Indian intelligence agency) to identify targets for attacks carried out by a criminal syndicate led by Lawrence Bishnoi, whose organization has an extensive presence in Canada.’ The article shares how in a 5-hour meeting between Indian and Canadian officials in Singapore, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval initially ‘pretended not to have any idea’ about Bishnoi – whose hitmen are involved in a recent murder of a politician in Mumbai – but later acknowledged he was ‘capable of orchestrating violence from wherever he is incarcerated.’ The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided details which Canadian PM Justin Trudeau mentioned in his statement. In India, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler who later told the media, ‘Canada has provided credible, irrefutable evidence of ties of the Govt. of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. Now, it is time for India to live up to what it said it would do and look into those allegations.’ In response, India withdrew its diplomats saying, ‘(it has) no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security.’ India also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats and said it had withdrawn its envoys from Canada, contradicting Canada’s statement of expulsion of the diplomats.