NEW DELHI: Visiting New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has cast doubt on the “potential” Indian link to the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
As a member of the Five-Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, New Zealand received intel related to the Nijjar case last year before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicised allegations linking his death to India.
Peters, currently on a four-day visit to India, assumed office as Deputy Prime Minister after Centre-Right parties triumphed over the Left-leaning Labour Party in New Zealand’s last November elections. Peters, who is also serving as the country’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday that the handling of the Nijjar case transpired under the purview of the previous government.
WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE?
In an interview with The Indian Express, Peters stressed that although information is received — presumably via the Five-Eyes — its value and quality are often ambiguous. He underlined the absence of conclusive evidence or findings corroborating the alleged Indian involvement. “As a trained lawyer, I look okay, so where’s the case? Where’s the evidence? Where’s the finding right here, right now? Well, there isn’t one,” he told the newspaper.
This marks the first instance where a Five-Eyes partner has openly contested Canada’s assertions. India-Canada ties soured after Trudeau last September said that Ottawa was “actively pursuing credible allegations” that Indian agents were potentially linked to the June killing of Nijjar. Ever since Trudeau went public with the Nijjar claims, New Delhi has strongly rejected the accusations and asked Ottawa to furnish solid proof.
India has maintained that its approach right from the beginning was collaborative and wanted to deal with the concerns raised by Canada through diplomatic channels. In an earlier release that announced Peters’ visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and New Zealand share warm and friendly relations based on commonalities of democratic traditions and shared values bolstered by strong people-to-people ties. The two countries are engaging in cooperation across a wide range of areas, including trade and economy, defence and security, MEA said.
