India: Trudeau, his govt never shared any ‘credible evidence’

India on Tuesday rejected accusations made by Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and also by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), on the ongoing diplomatic row over the killing of Hardip Nijjar, saying “no credible” evidence and “no specifics” have been presented to India with regard to any ongoing investigation.

Canadian approach was of making vague accusations, the officials alleged.

Trudeau and the RCMP made separate statements last night in Canada claiming involvement of an Indian government official during investigation of Nijjar’s killing. The RCMP accused India of using members of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to target the Sikh and South Asian communities in Canada.

Authorities said the assertion from all Canadian officials is that credible evidence has been presented to India. This was also repeated by Canadian Charge d’Affaires to India (Stewart Wheeler) to the press.

“This is simply not true. From the very beginning, the Canadian approach has been to make vague accusations and put the burden of denial on India,” sources said.

The Press conference by Trudeau was like the “same old Trudeau saying the same old things for the same old reasons”.

At the RCMP press briefing, assertions were made about connections of certain individuals (Bishnoi gang members in Canada) to India, sources said.

“In no case were any specifics provided. There was also talk about holding people accountable. But it was never made clear who and for what,” sources added.

The officials also questioned how the Canadian side had been “intensively engaging” with Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, over the last year, and then it chose to target him.

Verma was expelled by Canada yesterday.

The officials said he, along with other diplomats, was withdrawn.