India has reached out to its close partners — the US, the UK and Australia — over the diplomatic row with Canada, and has made it clear to them that it is willing to cooperate, provided Ottawa furnishes evidence to back its claims, a news website has learnt.
Government sources told a news website that it was also conveyed in the strongest terms that Canada has never cooperated with India when it comes to New Delhi’s apprehensions about those with criminal cases in India finding safe haven in Canada.
It is learnt that a decision was taken to reach out to partners, who are incidentally also part of the Five Eyes — an intelligence alliance comprising the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
“We have made it clear that India is ready to cooperate. But we can only (do that) once any evidence is presented,” said one source. The source underlined that while Justin Trudeau in his speech in the House of Commons alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of a Sikh separatist in Surrey, and expelled an Indian diplomat, the Canadian prime minister failed to present any evidence to back his claims.
“It was also conveyed in the strongest terms that Canada has never cooperated with India when it comes to even Indian gangsters who have found safe haven there. Forget about cooperation when it comes to convicted terrorists and pro-Khalistan separatists, not even plain gangsters and narco-traffickers,” the source added.
This communication to the US, the UK and Australia comes at a time when Canada has already reached out to them, seeking their support.
Sources explained that for any cooperation, Canadian authorities would have to name suspects and provide evidence of the involvement of an Indian in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. They also said that Canada broke the universal code followed by all countries of not naming intelligence personnel of another country at the time of expulsion.
During his weekly press conference Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also spoke about Canada not having presented any ‘specific evidence’ to back its claims. “We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada. From our side, specific evidence about criminal activities by individuals based on Canadian soil has been shared with Canada but not acted upon,” he said.
As reported by a news website earlier, between August 2021 and September 2023, NIA shared information with Canadian authorities eight times through the MoU route regarding involvement of Canada-based terrorists / gangsters /organisers of criminal networks, but to no avail.
Sources said till date, 26 extradition requests sent by India are pending with Canadian authorities, some of which are unrelated to separatist activities. “It appears that the Canadian system deliberately moves slowly for all lawful requests made by India,” said a second source.
(With inputs from agencies)