Former Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Verma, said on Friday that the Canadian authorities’ admission that there was no evidence linking the Indian government or Indian officials to the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nigar proved New Delhi’s “principled position” on the issue.
In October 2024, Verma had to leave Canada after Canadian law enforcement authorities designated him and a few other Indian diplomats as “persons of interest” in the investigation into the murder of Najjar, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in the Canadian city of Surrey in June 2023. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that Indian government agents were connected to the murder further deteriorated bilateral relations.
With the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) declaring after their joint investigation with US authorities that there was no evidence linking Indian officials to the murder, Verma, who has since retired, said the latest developments prove India’s stated position of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
“I would like to say that we have stuck to our principled stand and that stand has been vindicated,” Verma told HT in an interview. “So when we said, from day one, that it is not India’s policy to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, we meant it.”
Verma pointed out that the multi-state investigation into the criminal gangs, codenamed ‘Operation Hardball’, also had a murder element in Surrey. He added: “We are not seeking anyone’s approval as to whether our statement or position is correct. But we are happy to see that the outcome of the investigation has led them to understand that neither the state nor the Indian government, its officials or diplomats had any role to play in the murder which was the result of a guerrilla war.”
After an investigation conducted by law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada and Europe, US authorities on Tuesday charged Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster imprisoned in India, and his assistant Satinderjit Singh, alias Goldie Brar, on charges of ordering the assassination of Al-Najjar. In the same case, 24 people linked to three transnational criminal groups based in India were arrested.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland told media that evidence collected under Operation Hard Ball did not indicate the involvement of Indian officials or the Indian government.
Verma insisted that the allegations made by Trudeau were “politically motivated.” “What we have maintained from day one is that the entire move was politically motivated. The allegations that the Government of India, the State of India, Indian diplomats and Indian officials were involved in any way were ridiculous,” he said.
He also confirmed that Naggar’s killing was the result of rivalry between the Bishnoi gang and other gangs linked to Khalistani extremists based in Canada. “That’s what [US] The indictment also indicates that there is competition between the gangs over extortion, drug money and weapons smuggling.”
Verma said that the Khalistani militants were part of gangs opposing the Bishnoi gang. “There are many Khalistani extremists in Canada who are heavily involved in these criminal activities… So, for the kind of money that is available through these criminal activities, I would not be surprised if [Nijjar’s killing] “It was the result of guerrilla warfare.”
“Goldie Brar was on Canada’s most wanted list and this happened when I was still stationed there as India’s representative,” Verma said, adding that the Canadian side never provided any evidence that would allow India to cooperate or cooperate in the matter.
“We had already requested the Canadian government to return several of these people to India for interrogation or to allow us to interrogate them. But unfortunately, that did not happen at that time,” he said.
In the wake of Trudeau’s accusations, both India and Canada expelled the other’s diplomats, reduced consular services, and downgraded relations. However, as HT reported, back-channel communications between the two sides’ security services resumed in late 2024, and the election of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney led to further measures to normalize relations and address security concerns of both countries.
Such communications are always better because they allow “concerns to be aired among trusted partners,” Verma said. He added: “India, the United States and Canada – [all of] They have platforms where security services discuss issues of concern to all parties. Among them is the extradition treaty [and] India has sought the extradition of a number of individuals from Canada, which has not yet happened.
Verma said that although India-Canada relations are back on track, they still have “a long way to go, especially with regard to our political concerns with Canada.” He added, “But I see positive developments afoot. When you see the trade discussions taking place regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or when we see the investment aspects, whether in pension funds or others, things are moving forward.”
