'India's cooperation with?Canada's legal process is right next step,' says UK on Nijjar murder probe

The United Kingdom on Wednesday expressed full confidence in Canada’s judicial system and added that India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process was "the right next step" for the country at a time when New Delhi and Ottawa are at odds over the probe into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.??

CREDIT: AP

What UK government said

"We are in contact with our Canadian partners about the serious developments outlined in the independent investigations in Canada. The UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system. The Government of India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process is the right next step," the British government said in a statement.

Earlier, on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in his telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart, had "discussed the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law" as the two leaders discussed the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada.??

India should cooperate with Canada: US

The US has also drawn a similar line in the dispute, while terming Canada’s allegations as "extremely serious." The US also asked India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation into the killing of Nijjar, who was shot dead in June 2023, in British Columbia.??

CREDIT: REUTERS

India-Canada row over Nijjar murder

Canada has blamed agents of the Indian government for the murder of Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India in July 2020 for his involvement in the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned terror outfit.??

According to the Canadian government, agents of the Indian government who were working closely with the Indian diplomatic mission staff were behind the killing of Nijjar.??

CREDIT: AP

India has repeatedly denied the Canadian allegations and challenged Ottawa to show evidence linking agents of the Indian government with the murder, something that Canada has not done publicly yet.??

Canada expels Indian diplomats

Though the row had been going on for more than a year, things escalated on Monday after Canada named six Indian diplomats, including Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, as 'persons of interest' in the case.

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