New Delhi: A Canadian commission report has stated that there is “no definitive link” between a foreign state and the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, contradicting earlier allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against India.
The 123-page report, titled Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, was released on January 28, 2025. While it acknowledged that disinformation was used as a retaliatory tactic, it could not establish any conclusive evidence of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan activist, was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Following the incident, PM Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were involved, causing a diplomatic rift between India and Canada. India strongly rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd and politically motivated.”
Key Findings of the Report
The report did not prove any foreign state’s role in the assassination. It suggested that India may have engaged in disinformation campaigns following Trudeau’s announcement. In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, accusing them of targeting Canadian citizens. In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its High Commissioner.
New Delhi has dismissed the “insinuations” made in the report. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Canada has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs by allowing pro-Khalistan groups to operate freely.
The report comes amid already strained India-Canada relations, with both nations at odds over the Khalistan issue and foreign interference claims.
