Amid the ongoing dispute between Canada and India, the UK is asking New Delhi to cooperate with the Ottawa legal process, expressing full confidence in the country’s judicial system.
On Wednesday, the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office issued a statement saying that India’s cooperation with Canada would be “the right next step.”
“We are communicating with our Canadian partners about the critical developments revealed in Canada’s independent investigation. The UK has full confidence in the Canadian justice system. Respect for sovereignty and the rule of law is important,” the statement reads.
“The Government of India’s cooperation with the Canadian legal process is the right next step.”
The statement comes after Canada on Monday expelled six Indian politicians from the country for allegedly targeting Canadian citizens opposed to the Narendra Modi government. Canadian officials have linked the Indian high commissioner and other diplomatic staff to the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on their soil and accused New Delhi of a broad effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada.
India, which has long denied allegations that agents of that government were involved in Nijjar’s murder, retaliated by ordering the expulsion of six high-ranking Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner.
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The statement from the UK follows a phone call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday evening.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments related to the “targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India,” according to a report of the call shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.
Starmer and Trudeau also spoke about the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens and the importance of upholding and respecting the law, the PMO said. Trudeau emphasized Canada’s continued interest in working with India to address this critical issue.
“Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Starmer agreed to remain close and regular,” the PMO said.
– via files from Reuters and Global News
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