Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, testifying before the foreign interference inquiry, acknowledged that his government only had "intelligence, not hard proof" when it accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau admitted that Canada lacked definitive evidence when its agencies approached India, asking New Delhi to investigate the allegations. India had demanded proof, but Trudeau revealed that what Canada provided was mainly intelligence, not conclusive evidence.
Trudeau also reflected on his conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, before Canada publicly made the accusations. He claimed that during the meeting, he informed Modi of Canada's concerns and alleged involvement of Indian agents, but Modi dismissed the charges, instead raising issues about anti-India elements residing in Canada.
The diplomatic rift between India and Canada worsened after Trudeau’s accusations, with India rejecting the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The situation escalated as Canada accused Indian diplomats of colluding with criminal gangs, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, to target pro-Khalistan figures.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded to these claims with a strong rebuke, accusing Canada of providing no tangible evidence and engaging in vote-bank politics. India later expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its high commissioner from Ottawa, further deepening the diplomatic crisis.