What Mark Carney said on Nijjar killing after bilateral meet with PM Modi

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday appeared to be cautious as he shared details of his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Speaking to reporters, Carney said while the two leaders discussed the importance of having law enforcement dialogue and cooperating directly, as there is a judicial process underway, he needs to be “careful about further commentary”.

“We discussed the importance of having law enforcement dialogue, not just dialogue, cooperation directly, the importance of addressing transnational repression…There is a judicial process that’s underway, and I need to be careful about further commentary,” Carney said in Kananaskis, where the G7 event was held.

His remarks came as India and Canada achieved a major diplomatic breakthrough after both countries decided to reinstate High Commissioners in each other’s capitals. The decision followed a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Nijjar, wanted by India for being associated with terrorist activities, was shot dead on Canadian soil in June 2023. A few months later, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a shocking allegation, saying Ottawa had credible evidence suggesting the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia. The matter has since remained a focal point of diplomatic fallout between the two countries. India has consistently dismissed the claims, accusing the Canadian government of failing to provide concrete proof or formal communication of their allegations, despite the arrests of Indian nationals in the case.

During their bilateral meeting, both PM Modi and his Canadian counterpart shared a positive vision for taking forward the countries’ diplomatic ties after a two-year-long rough patch. PM Modi congratulated Carney on his win in the recently held Canadian elections and spoke about his confidence in India and Canada’s ties growing in several sectors.

Carney, meanwhile, praised PM Modi for attending every G7 Summit since 2018 and also highlighted India’s global influence. Answering a question by Gaurav Sawant from India Today TV, the Canadian PM said, “Prime Minister Modi has attended every G7 since 2018, which is a reflection of the size of the Indian economy, the dynamism of the Indian economy, Indian technology, and the leadership position India plays in its host of venues from G20 and beyond. So, as Chair of the G7, hosting the Prime Minister in that context is entirely natural, entirely consistent. I fully expect the Prime Minister of India to be in attendance at the G7 in France next year.”

He also called his bilateral meeting with PM Modi “foundational and a necessary first step”. The Canadian PM shared that the two leaders agreed to provide the “necessary foundations” to begin rebuilding a relationship between India and Canada.

“I think today’s meeting was important, but I would describe it as foundational, a necessary first step: an exchange of views-frank, open exchange of views around law enforcement and transnational repression, as two examples-an agreement to provide the necessary foundations to begin rebuilding a relationship based on mutual respect, sovereignty, and trust. We will move to appoint High Commissioners again,” Carney told India Today TV’s Gaurav Sawant.

This was the first meeting between Carney and PM Modi since the former became the Canadian Prime Minister.