"India asking for evidence so that Canada can conclude its investigation" says Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Verma

India-Canada ties strained after PM Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India asked for specific evidence to help in the investigation but Canada has not been able to present any. Indian envoy Verma urged Ottawa to focus on convergence and send business delegations to India.

Indian High Commissioner in Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said that, and India is only asking for “specific and relevant” evidence in the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar so that it can help Canada in reaching the conclusion of the investigation.

He further said that instead of the differences, the India-Canada relations should focus on convergence, as New Delhi is still open for business relations and urges Ottawa to send more business delegations here.

Also read: Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh activist whose killing has divided Canada and India?

In an interview with Canadian journalist Tahir Gora at TAG TV Toronto, the Indian High Commissioner said, “We have always said that India is ready to look into any specific and relevant shared by our Canadian friends and take it forward in a logical way that is legally defendable in both the countries.”

On being asked if India is looking into the allegations and concerns made by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Mr. Verma said that India is only asking for relevant information so that New Delhi can help Ottawa reach the conclusion of the case.

“India is only asking for specific and relevant information so that we can help you. We can help the Canadian investigators to reach their conclusion, to the extent that it will be viable for them to go for the legal action...I will urge my Canadian friends and colleagues. I can assure them that we will certainly look into them,” he added. The Indian envoy further said that there is an understanding of New Delhi’s concerns from the Canadian side but more action needs to be seen on the ground.

“We have voiced our concerns on various occasions and not only today from through our historical relationship which we have here. I believe that there is an understanding of our concern in the Canadian policy-making circles and decision-making circles. I have seen many statements coming from the Canadian leadership respecting Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity and I have no doubt about it,” Mr. Verma said.