Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma Denies Involvement in Murder of Sikh Leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada

India's high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has firmly denied any involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader killed in British Columbia last year. Despite being named by the Canadian government as a person of interest, Verma insists the allegations are politically driven. "Nothing at all," Verma stated when questioned about his role in Nijjar's shooting outside a cultural centre in Surrey on 18 June 2023.

Four Indian nationals residing in Canada have been charged with Nijjar's murder and are awaiting trial. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently alleged that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. They claimed these diplomats shared information with their government, which was then passed to organised crime groups targeting activists through shootings, extortions, and even murder.

Allegations and Diplomatic Tensions

Verma has refuted claims that the Indian government is targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. "I, as high commissioner of India, have never done anything of that kind," he asserted. He emphasised that any actions by Indian officials in Canada were transparent. During the interview, Verma condemned Nijjar's death, stating, "Any murder is wrong and bad. I do condemn."

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly compared India to Russia, alleging links between Indian diplomats and homicides in Canada. Verma challenged these assertions, demanding evidence: "Let me see the concrete evidence she's talking about." He dismissed the claims as politically motivated.

International Accusations and Responses

The Indian government has rejected Canada's accusations as baseless. In retaliation, India expelled Canada's acting high commissioner and five other diplomats. Verma highlighted that no evidence had been shared with India regarding these allegations. The RCMP's attempts to share evidence earlier this month were unsuccessful due to visa issues.

Canada is not alone in its accusations against India. The U.S. Justice Department recently announced charges against an Indian government employee for an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Vikash Yadav faces murder-for-hire charges related to this planned killing.

Impact on Bilateral Relations

The Khalistan movement, advocating for an independent Sikh state in India, has been a point of contention between India and Canada. While banned in India, it has support among the Sikh diaspora in Canada. The Nijjar incident has strained relations between the two countries for over a year.

Despite these tensions, Verma does not foresee significant impacts on non-political relations between India and Canada. "I don't see much impact on non-political bilateral relations," he commented, suggesting that business ties may remain unaffected by the diplomatic discord.