New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday criticised Canada for failing to act on India’s requests for the arrest of members of The Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that despite multiple requests, Canada did not address New Delhi’s “core concerns” regarding the gang’s activities, hinting at political motives behind the inaction.
“We had shared some requests with the Canadian side for the arrest of those from Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang. They haven’t taken any action on our core concerns. There is a political motive also behind this,” Jaiswal said.
He further highlighted that 26 extradition requests have been pending with Canada over the past decade, along with several provisional arrest requests concerning certain criminals.
“We had shared security-related information with the Canadian government regarding gang members, including those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and requested their arrest. So far, no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our request. We find it really strange that now the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is blaming the Indian side for crimes committed by these people in Canada,” Jaiswal added.
The MEA also dismissed recent allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the involvement of Indian government agents in the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau, who appeared as a witness at the Foreign Interference Commission in Ottawa on Wednesday, admitted that Canada lacked “hard evidentiary proof” and relied solely on intelligence in making the accusations. He claimed there were “clear indications” that India had violated Canadian sovereignty.
In response, the MEA reiterated that Canada had not provided any evidence to substantiate its claims. “What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats. The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone,” said a statement issued by the MEA on Thursday morning.
The MEA has issued multiple statements refuting the allegations and reaffirming India’s position on the matter.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has confirmed that the Indian government has removed CC1 (who was accused of conspiring in the murder for hire against Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun).
“India has an inquiry committee that is looking into these issues. That committee is visiting the United States today to deal with the US case specifically. I can’t speak of the case in Canada and I wouldn’t speak for the Canadians one way or another,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Miller also said that the fact that India sent an inquiry committee to the US demonstrates that they are taking the matter seriously.
