India-Canada Row: Congress Supports Centre, Says National Interests Paramount

New Delhi: The Congress party has thrown its support behind the Indian government in response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent allegation that “Indian agents” played a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June.

The Indian government promptly rejected these allegations, deeming them “absurd and motivated.”

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress party’s communications in-charge, emphasized the importance of prioritizing India’s interests and concerns in such matters. He stated, “The Indian National Congress has always believed that our country’s fight against terrorism must remain unwavering, especially when it poses a threat to India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.”

The Indian National Congress has always believed that our country's fight against terrorism has to be uncompromising, especially when terrorism threatens India's sovereignty, unity and integrity. Our country's interests and concerns must be kept paramount at all times.#Canada

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 19, 2023

The opposition party’s support for the government on this issue underscores the nation’s commitment to addressing terrorism and safeguarding its interests.

Nijjar’s killing and Trudeau’s claim

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated and wanted terrorist in India, was killed by unidentified assailants near a gurudwara in Surrey, Canada, last June.

Trudeau asserted that his government possessed “credible allegations” linking Nijjar’s killing to “agents of the Government of India.” He characterized any foreign government involvement in the death of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil as an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty” during an emergency session of the Canadian parliament.

India’s rebuttal and diplomatic fallout

India firmly refuted these allegations and accused Canada of providing shelter to Khalistani terrorists. The Indian foreign ministry issued a statement, asserting, “The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities, including murders, human trafficking, and organized crime, is not new.” As a consequence of this diplomatic standoff, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.