Diplomatic Row: ‘India Wanted Canada To Extradite Bishnoi Gang Members’

New Delhi: As diplomatic ties with Canada continue to plummet, India has gone on the offensive to expose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration.

Even before the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in June 2023, Indian government has been raising concerns over Canada’s handling of criminals linked to organised crime.

On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted Canada’s reluctance to extradite individuals associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, an India-based criminal organisation which is involved in crimes in Canada as well.

“We find it really strange that people we asked to be deported, Canada cops are now claiming that these people are committing crimes in Canada, for which India is being blamed,” Jaiswal said.

He added that 26 of India’s extradition requests are pending for a decade or more.

“Several probational requests are pending too,” the MEA spokesperson claimed.

Since September 2023, diplomatic ties between India and Canada have worsened, largely triggered by the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

PM Trudeau’s claim in September 2023 that Canada had credible evidence of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder triggered a diplomatic crisis, which has reached its nadir now.

However, Trudeau admitted a day earlier that his assertion was based on intel information, not hard proof.

“We have made our position very clear through various press releases. Since September 2023, there has been no evidence provided, and just last night, we issued another press release reiterating our stance. So far Canada has not given any evidence to back their allegations. Their allegations are politically motivated. Clear pattern to smear India for reasons best known to them,” Jaiswal said.