India had sought extradition of Lawrence Bishnoi gang members from Canada a few years back, Randhir Jaiaswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Thursday amid a diplomatic row with the North American country.
"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 in a press briefing on Thursday.
In response to a question at a media briefing, Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, said, “They (Indian Govt) did inform us that the individual named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government.” This is related to a similar case in Canada wherein Indian Govt and individuals are accused of eliminating 'terrorists' in foreign soil.
The United States now confirms that the individual, a former RAW officer identified as allegedly involved in the US Department of Justice indictment, in the failed plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is “no longer an employee of the Indian government.”
Miller said that the high-level Indian inquiry committee had a “productive meeting” with US government officials during which both sides shared updates on their respective investigations into the case.
The US had announced the visit of the high-level Indian inquiry committee earlier this week amid a diplomatic blowback between New Delhi and Ottawa over Canada’s suggestion of Indian diplomats’ involvement in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassination case.
The statement announcing this visit was put out on Monday and later retracted, but was eventually restored on the US State Department website.
The Indian committee, whose composition hasn’t been officially disclosed but is believed to include a retired IPS officer currently serving as Deputy National Security Advisor and another retired IPS officer presently serving as Special Secretary in the National Security Council Secretariat, was set up to review the evidence shared by the US government regarding the involvement of Indian national Nikhil Gupta.
Gupta allegedly plotted to kill Pannun at the behest of an Indian intelligence official. The US indictment has also suggested a link between the alleged plot targeting Pannun and the killing of Nijjar.
Miller further stated that the US was “satisfied” with India’s cooperation.
“It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation, and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours,” he said.
Miller said: “The fact that they sent an inquiry committee here, I think, demonstrates that they are taking this seriously. It is something they absolutely need to take seriously.”
Justin stands exposed and hollow !
India has called out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "cavalier attitude" after he acknowledged that he had only "intelligence-based speculation" and
no "hard evidentiary proof" regarding the alleged involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us (India) no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a late-night statement.
The foreign ministry flayed Justin Trudeau for the ongoing diplomatic standoff between the two nations, which saw diplomats being kicked out in tit-for-tat moves, the latest in a year-long dispute that has plunged bilateral relations to a new low.
"The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone," it stated.
The stern response followed Trudeau's deposition at a parliamentary inquiry on foreign interference, where he addressed what he characterised as broad efforts by Indian representatives to silence critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Canadian soil.
The Canadian leader sought to hit back by claiming that there were "clear indications" that India violated his country's sovereignty. However, while testifying before the Commission of Inquiry, Trudeau admitted that his government only provided
"intelligence and no proof" to India over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
He stated that when Canadian agencies asked India to look into the allegations last year, New Delhi sought proof.
"At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof," Trudeau said.
ends
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