Former Canadian National Security Advisor, Jody Thomas, has revealed that India is now cooperating with Canada in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and that bilateral ties are improving following months of tensions over the matter.
Thomas described the changing relationship as an “evolution” while talking during a recent interview with CTV.
She revealed that India is now cooperating in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Khalistani separatist and terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 in Surrey. This is the first time a Canadian official will acknowledge that India has moved things forward after allegations of non-cooperation against India by Canada amid tensions over Nijjar’s killing.
The ties between both countries dipped last year after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s suspected involvement in the killing. India denied the allegation as “absurd and motivated.” There was no formal response from the Indian Government to the remarks made by Thomas, who retired recently.
India has maintained that Canada never shared any evidence or information to support its claim that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Nijjar. Thomas said: “I would not describe them as non-cooperating.”
During the interview, she described the changing relationship between Canada and India as an “evolution” and said Canada has “made advancements in that relationship.” She said: “My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful, and I think they’ve moved things forward.”
She was asked whether Canada’s improved relationship with India was a result of the US indictment against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, in a murder-for-hire plot to murder Khalistani separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American and she said: “The two are connected for sure. The information that they revealed supported our position and our assertions with India. India is working with us, and my counterpart, in particular, far more closely to resolve this.”
