Canada committed to closer ties with India, says PM Trudeau

Trudeau: Canada "very serious" about closer ties with India, but wants New Delhi to work with Ottawa to ensure facts of Nijjar killing. Tensions flared after Trudeau's explosive allegations of Indian agents' involvement. Despite allegations, Trudeau committed to building closer ties, US Sec. Blinken to raise issue in meeting with Indian counterpart. Trudeau, Poilievre, Singh agree on need to respect rule of law in approach to India.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said Canada is "very serious" about building closer ties with India as it is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player, but wants New Delhi to work with Ottawa to ensure that they get the full facts about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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Tensions flared between India and Canada following Mr. Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Nijjar on his country's soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

India angrily rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case.

Mr. Trudeau said despite “credible allegations” against India, Canada is committed to building closer ties with it, The National Post newspaper reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Montreal, Mr. Trudeau said that he thinks it is “extremely important” that Canada and its allies continue to engage “constructively and seriously” with India given its growing importance on the world stage.

“India is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, we’re very serious about building closer ties with India,” he told reporters.