The UK is not about to end trade talks with India despite accusations that the country’s government authorised the murder of a Sikh activist in Canada, according to Politico.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’ spokesman said he would not “get ahead of” the investigation being conducted by Canada, Britain’s G7 and Five Eyes ally, and that “when we have issues with countries we are negotiating trade deals with, we will raise them directly with the government.”
On Monday night, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a sensational statement that there were “credible allegations” about the Indian government’s involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year. However, New Delhi has denied the allegation.
Nijjar, a prominent activist and advocate for an independent Sikh nation, was murdered by two gunmen outside his home in British Columbia on June 18.
The allegations, which the Indian government calls “absurd and motivated,” have soured Canada-India relations, and the two sides suspended trade talks last week after Trudeau met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trudeau said:
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Sunak notes that trade talks between Britain and India could be finalised as early as next month if both sides make final concessions. New Delhi was reportedly angry with the Sunak government in March for not more forcefully condemning violent protests by supporters of the Sikh separatist movement outside the country’s embassy in London.
