Biden raised issue of Canadian Sikh’s murder with Modi at G-20: Report

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden and other leaders expressed concern to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Group of 20 (G-20) summit in September about Canadian claims that New Delhi was involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Several members of the Five Eyes – an intelligence-sharing network that comprises the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – raised the issue with Mr Modi, the newspaper said. It cited three people familiar with the discussion at the summit.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the FT report.

Mr Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was killed in June in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his allegations public in an address to the Canadian Parliament this week.

The announcement came just days after the G-20 summit was held in India.

The leaders intervened at the G-20 summit after Canada urged its allies to raise the case directly with Mr Modi, FT reported.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier on Thursday that the US is in touch with Indians at high levels following Ottawa’s claims about the murder, and Washington is giving India no “special exemption” in the matter.

India has rejected Canada’s allegations and called them “absurd”.

The crisis has put a further dent in Canada-India ties.

India on Thursday suspended new visas for Canadians and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country.

The situation has put some Western nations in a tough position as Canada has been a longstanding partner and ally.

Those countries are also seeking to build strong ties with New Delhi to counter the influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region. REUTERS