“No evidence presented—politically motivated,” asserts Sanjay Kumar Verma
21 Oct: India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has strongly refuted any involvement of the Indian government or its diplomats in the killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot and killed in British Columbia last year. In an exclusive interview on CTV’s Question Period, Verma emphasized that no evidence has been presented linking him or India to the crime, calling the accusations “politically motivated.”
When asked directly about any connection to the incident, Verma responded, “Nothing at all,” and went on to express his dissatisfaction with the lack of substantial evidence to support the claims made by the Canadian government. He also dismissed the allegations made by Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who had stated that the decision to expel six Indian diplomats, including Verma, was based on “ample, clear, and concrete” evidence gathered by the RCMP. Verma criticized Joly’s remarks, stating, “She’s talking politically. Let me see the concrete evidence she’s talking about.”
This denial comes shortly after the Canadian government and the RCMP accused Indian diplomats and consular officials of being involved in serious criminal activities, including homicides and extortion, within Canada. The tension between the two countries reached a critical point last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement in the House of Commons, claiming “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in Nijjar’s murder.
Verma reiterated that India condemns any form of violence, including Nijjar’s death. He stressed, “Any murder is wrong and bad. I do condemn it, and I’ve said this in many interviews. Let’s get to the bottom of the issue.” However, he firmly denied any role played by the Indian government in the assassination, maintaining that no evidence had been shared with Indian officials to warrant cooperation.
Canada and India Locked in Diplomatic Dispute
The diplomatic relationship between Canada and India has been fraught with tension since Trudeau’s explosive allegations. Following the accusations, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including Verma, while India retaliated by removing six Canadian diplomats from its own country.
Despite the heated exchanges, Verma insists that Canada has not provided India with any concrete evidence to back up the claims. “Unfortunately, we have not received anything from any Canadian official that could lead us to a better understanding,” he said.
The RCMP recently revealed that Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn had made several attempts to meet with Indian officials to present evidence in Nijjar’s case, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Flynn, along with Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrison, held meetings with Indian government representatives just before Monday’s announcement urging cooperation. However, India refused to waive diplomatic immunity for Verma and his colleagues, making it impossible for them to be questioned.
When asked why India was reluctant to engage with Canadian authorities, Verma cited “technical” reasons, such as a lack of proper visas and an official agenda for the meetings. “Visas need to be affixed for any delegation. For any government delegation to travel to another country, you need an agenda to go by,” Verma explained, adding that there was no such agenda for the meetings.
Differences in Approach: Canada and the U.S.
Interestingly, India has been more cooperative with U.S. authorities in a separate case involving a foiled assassination attempt on Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. This assassination plot, which took place in New York, has been linked to Nijjar’s case by the U.S. Justice Department, which recently announced charges against an Indian government employee.
However, Verma dismissed any connection between the two cases, insisting that an “indictment is not a conviction” and that the case must follow due judicial process.
Cameron MacKay, Canada’s most recent High Commissioner to India, stated in a separate interview that Canada had shared more than enough information with India over the past year and suggested that India’s reluctance to engage with Canada, while cooperating with the U.S., could be driven by domestic political reasons.
“India has created a false distinction between what happened in the U.S. and what happened in Canada, which has worked well for them in terms of domestic media coverage. But internationally, I don’t think that’s the case,” MacKay remarked.
Allegations of Coercion and Surveillance
In addition to the murder investigation, the RCMP has also accused Indian diplomats of using their positions to coerce individuals and businesses into gathering information on pro-Khalistan activists in Canada, particularly those involved in the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh state in India.
Verma denied these claims, stating, “As High Commissioner of India, I have never done anything of that kind. That is one. Second, do we want to know what pro-Khalistani elements in Canada are doing? Yes, we do. That’s in my national interest.” He clarified that any information gathered by Indian officials was done through “overt” means, such as reading newspapers and social media posts.
Verma’s comments come as the diplomatic standoff between Canada and India continues, with both countries facing pressure to resolve the escalating tensions. As investigations proceed, Verma has repeatedly called for any concrete evidence to be shared with India to clarify the situation, emphasizing that “not a shred of evidence” has been provided thus far.
The Khalistan movement remains a contentious issue between the two nations, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently criticizing Canada for what he views as its leniency toward Sikh separatism within its borders. With both countries at odds, the dispute shows no signs of resolution in the near future.