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US President, different Western leaders expressed concern about killing instantly with India PM Modi at G20: Monetary Instances.
United States President Joe Biden and different leaders expressed concern to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the G20 summit earlier this month about Canada’s claim that New Delhi was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist chief, the Monetary Instances (FT) has reported.
A number of members of the 5 Eyes – an intelligence-sharing community that features Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US – raised the killing of Sikh separatist chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar instantly with Modi, the newspaper reported on Thursday, citing three individuals aware of discussions on the G20.
Biden and different leaders made their issues identified on the summit after Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged allies to intervene instantly with Modi, the newspaper reported.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the FT’s report, in accordance with the Reuters information company, however a spokesperson stated on Thursday that the US was deeply concerned by the allegations.
India has rejected Canada’s claims of official involvement within the killing, calling the allegations “absurd”.
India’s international ministry has stated that Canada had not shared any specific information concerning the homicide of Nijjar, 45, who was gunned down exterior a Sikh temple he led within the metropolis of Surrey in Canada’s province of British Columbia in June.
Nijjar, a plumber who was born in India however turned a Canadian citizen in 2007, was a vocal supporter of a Sikh homeland in India within the type of an impartial Khalistani state and was designated a “terrorist” by Indian authorities in July 2020.
On the time of his killing, Nijjar was trying to organise an unofficial Sikh diaspora referendum on independence from India.
The Related Press reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed supply aware of the matter, that the allegation of India’s involvement within the killing of Nijjar was based mostly on human and surveillance intelligence, together with indicators intelligence of Indian diplomats in Canada.
The Canadian official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t authorised to debate the matter publicly, did not say which member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance supplied a few of the intelligence on the Indian diplomats nor did they offer any particular particulars of what was contained within the intelligence.
The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) first reported particulars of the intelligence on Thursday. The CBC, citing Canadian sources, additionally reported that no Indian official, when pressed behind closed doorways, has denied the allegation that there’s proof suggesting Indian authorities involvement in Nijjar’s loss of life.
India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for touch upon the CBC report.
‘Deep issues concerning the allegations’
Trudeau’s allegations have been adopted by every nation expelling a diplomat. The rising dispute has additionally put some Western nations in a tough place as Canada has been their longstanding associate and ally whereas, on the identical time, the US and others within the West are in search of to construct robust ties with New Delhi to counter the affect of China within the Asia Pacific area.
US nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan stated on Thursday that there was no “wedge” between the US and Canada over Ottawa’s allegations that India had a hand within the killing of Nijjar.
“I’ve seen within the press some efforts to attempt to drive a wedge between the USA and Canada on this concern,” Sullivan stated.
“I firmly reject the thought that there’s a wedge between the US and Canada,” he advised reporters, noting that “we have now deep issues concerning the allegations”.
On Thursday, the corporate that processes Indian visas in Canada introduced that visa providers had been suspended till additional discover. The BLS Indian Visa Software Middle gave no additional particulars.
The suspension means Canadians – who’re among the many prime guests to India – will be unable to journey to India except they’ve a visa already.
New Delhi’s anxieties about Sikh separatist teams in Canada have lengthy been a pressure on relations, however the two nations have maintained robust defence and commerce ties and share strategic pursuits over China’s world ambitions.
In March, Modi’s authorities summoned the Canadian excessive commissioner in New Delhi, its prime diplomat within the nation, to complain about Sikh independence protests in Canada.
A Sikh rebellion shook northern India within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties till it was crushed in a authorities crackdown during which 1000’s of individuals have been killed, together with outstanding Sikh leaders.
Whereas the rebellion ended many years in the past, the Indian authorities has warned that Sikh separatists try to stage a return.
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