Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) chief David Vigneault made two unannounced visits to India in February and March in connection with the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to reports.
The visits occurred before Canada arrested four Indian nationals—Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22), Karan Brar (22), and Amandeep Singh—in relation to Nijjar’s killing.
A Canadian government official stated, "We can confirm that David Vigneault, the Director of CSIS, has traveled to India. However, we do not provide comments on the specifics or content of private meetings."
Ties between India and Canada strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of potentially being involved in the killing of prominent Sikh-Canadian activist Nijjar.
India dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and urged Canada to crack down on ‘anti-India’ groups operating within its territory.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, a city with a large Punjabi population in British Columbia, on June 18 last year.
Nijjar supported the demand for a Sikh homeland in India’s northern state of Punjab, the birthplace of the Sikh religion, which borders Pakistan. He was reportedly organizing an unofficial referendum in India for an independent Sikh nation at the time of his death.
A prominent community leader and activist, Nijjar was reported by Canadian media to be involved with a group called “Sikhs for Justice,” which advocates for an independent Sikh state in India.
India officially categorized him as a “terrorist,” alleging that he was involved in “exhorting seditionary and insurrectionary imputations” and “attempting to create disharmony among different communities” in the country.
Earlier, Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau congratulated PM Modi on his electoral victory in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections stating that Canada stands ready to work with his government to advance the relationship between our nations' peoples — anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.