Sanjay Kumar Verma, who used to be India’s top diplomat in Canada, is making big headlines. He has publicly criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, claiming that Trudeau has “destroyed” the friendly relationship between Canada and India for his own political reasons. This controversy comes as tensions rise between the two nations, leading India to recall Verma from his post.
In a recent interview with CTV News, a Canadian news channel, Verma strongly denied Canada’s claims that he and the Indian government were involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist who was killed in Canada. Canada has suggested that Verma and other senior Indian diplomats are “persons of interest” in the investigation into Nijjar’s murder.
Verma, however, pointed fingers back at Canada, accusing it of harboring and encouraging extremist groups, particularly those pushing for a separate Sikh nation, known as Khalistan. He claimed that members of this movement are being supported in Canada and suggested that some may even have connections to Canadian intelligence agencies.
He said, “This is my allegation; I’m not providing any evidence for it,” indicating a serious charge without concrete proof. Verma condemned Nijjar’s killing, calling it a terrible act, but he also hinted that some countries, including some in the G7, might be involved in extrajudicial killings—actions taken outside the law.
Verma emphasized that India, as a large democracy, is committed to not engaging in such actions on foreign soil. He pointed out that when Trudeau made allegations against India last month, he did so without presenting any solid evidence. Trudeau himself admitted that his claims were based on “primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof.”
Tensions flared further last week when both India and Canada expelled each other’s diplomats, including their high commissioners. Verma reiterated that Canada has not shared any evidence with India regarding its accusations. He compared the situation to another incident in the U.S., where Indian agents were linked to a failed murder plot against another Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
After U.S. prosecutors pointed to a connection between Indian officials and this plot, India set up a high-level committee to work with U.S. law enforcement. Verma noted that unlike the situation in the U.S., Canada has not presented any hard proof, stating that Trudeau’s accusations seem to be politically motivated.
With about 700,000 Sikhs in Canada, a significant voting group, Verma suggested that Trudeau might be using these allegations to gain political leverage. As the diplomatic row continues, questions remain about the future of Canada-India relations and the impact of these escalating tensions on both countries.
