In an interview published Saturday by the Globe and Mail, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, said a high-level Canadian official’s public words have hindered the police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia.
India declared Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar a “terrorist.” Canada has accused India of murdering him in a Vancouver neighborhood. The accusation is denied by India.
“I would go a step further and say that the probe has already been poisoned,” Verma told the newspaper. “A direction has come from someone at a high level to say India or Indian agents are behind it.”
Verma did not identify the high-ranking officer. Justin Trudeau said on Sept. 18 that “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India” and Nijjar’s killing.
Two countries are in diplomatic conflict over the matter. After New Delhi ordered Ottawa to lower its diplomatic presence in September after Canada’s Nijjar killing claims, Canada removed 41 diplomats.
Canada and Canada’s allies have not offered India proof that Indian agents killed Nijjar, Verma added.
Despite tensions, India wants to improve business relations and negotiate a trade deal.
Canada halted trade treaty talks with India in September, three months after the two governments stated they would sign an accord this year.
