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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he had a “brief exchange” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a summit in Laos this week, a year after he accused the Indian government of involvement in the murder of a Canadian Sikh activist in British Columbia
This is Trudeau's second face-to-face meeting with Modi since relations cooled in September 2023, after Trudeau rose in the House of Commons and said Canada was making “credible allegations” of ties to India over the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau did not reveal exactly what he told Modi at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, but he told Modi there were real problems they needed to solve.
“I emphasized that there is something to work on,” Trudeau told reporters at a news conference in Laos.
“I won't go into detail about what we discussed, but I have said many times that the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law is one of the fundamental responsibilities of every Canadian government, and that is what I believe.” I will stay focused.”
Nijjar was shot dead by masked men outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June 2023. Four Indian nationals are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with his murder. A high-profile case is currently pending in Canadian courts.
Just yesterday, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly described Canada's current relationship with India as “strained” and “very difficult.” She said there remains a threat of more killings like Nijjar's on Canadian soil.
Canadians' safety comes first: Trudeau
At the public inquiry into foreign interference, she testified that she is urging India to take part in the Canadian police investigation into Nijjar's death, but so far this has not happened and she fears for the safety of other Canadians.
“We call on the Government of India to cooperate because ultimately we want to bring to justice all those involved in Nijjar's murder and especially we want to prevent further murders because there is a threat,” she said. .
When asked by CBC News about the threat, Trudeau said the safety of Canadians is paramount.
“Over the last few months, we have seen disturbing patterns of violence affecting Indo-Canadians across the country, and I can assure you that this is an issue that will continue to be very, very hotly addressed,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau made the remark at a news conference in Vientiane, Laos, following the end of the ASEAN summit.
Modi also went to the summit and spoke to a number of world leaders, including meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, one of the partners of Canada's Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
Modi did not hold a bilateral meeting with Trudeau. The prime minister's office did not release any details about when or where Trudeau and Modi spoke at the summit.
Tensions between the Canadian and Indian governments are as high as ever following the arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of BC Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India initially denied any involvement in the killing, called the allegation “absurd” and accused Canada of harboring violent extremists.
Trudeau said Friday in Laos that he stands by his allegations. He said national security and law enforcement agencies “continue to be deeply engaged on this issue.”
“I will say that the statement I made regarding credible allegations of Indian involvement in the death of a Canadian on Canadian soil remains relevant, that our responsibility as a government to keep Canadians safe in their homes and communities across the country remains one of main interests of this government,” he said.
The US is investigating the alleged attack plan
After Canada came forward with its allegations, the United States later said it was investigating an alleged attack plot with links to India and Nijjar.
Unsealed US indictment in November 2023, alleged officials in New Delhi offered drug trafficker Nikhil Gupta $100,000 to hire a hitman to kill American-Canadian dual citizen and Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Officials in New Delhi announced the US indictment he also considered ordering Gupta to kill Nijjar.
India responded to the US allegations by saying it had launched an investigation, a markedly different reaction to Trudeau's statement in the House of Commons. In March, Bloomberg News reported that an Indian investigation found that the U.S. case involved “rogue agents” who were not authorized by the government.
Trudeau did not comment on the difference between India's response to the U.S. allegations and Canada's response when asked about it in Laos by CBC News.
On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since Canada publicly accused the Indian government of involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The last time Trudeau and Modi spoke face-to-face was in June, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. The prime minister's office described the exchange as a “short discussion on bilateral relations”, but did not want to reveal details.
Trudeau told CBC News in July he saw an opportunity to get involved with India after Modi's re-election. Trudeau said Friday that Canada must “continue to advance our trade and people-to-people relationships, but there are real problems that we need to solve and that will be our focus.”
Trudeau is scheduled to testify on Wednesday at the ongoing public inquiry into foreign interference in Ottawa and could face more questions about threats from India.
