India’s foreign ministry expressed frustration yesterday over Canada’s failure to act on multiple extradition requests, despite the growing tensions between the two nations following the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. The killing, which Canadian police have linked to Indian government agents and members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, has significantly strained diplomatic ties between the countries.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, criticized Canada’s inaction during a press briefing. “There is a contradiction in terms, which we don’t understand,” Jaiswal said, describing the situation as “strange.” He revealed that 26 Indian extradition requests have been pending with Canada over the last decade, including those related to members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which India believes to be involved in the murder.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have accused Indian agents of being connected to the gang in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, near Vancouver last year. However, Indian authorities have firmly denied any involvement in the murder.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau escalated the dispute on Wednesday, accusing India of making a “horrific mistake” by attempting to interfere in Canada’s sovereignty and security. India, in response, asserted that Trudeau’s statements only reinforced its stance that Canada had failed to provide credible evidence supporting its claims.
Jaiswal further highlighted India’s concern over Canada’s lack of action in addressing gang-related activities. “We have shared security-related information with the Canadian government regarding gang members, including those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and requested them to arrest or take due action as per law,” Jaiswal said. He emphasized the seriousness of the issue, noting that Canada had not taken any steps to address the extradition requests. “We find it really strange,” he added, stressing that the RCMP was blaming India for crimes committed by individuals India had long sought to be deported.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, led by 31-year-old Bishnoi, is considered by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to be a “terror-crime syndicate” operating both within India and internationally, including in Canada. Bishnoi himself runs the organization from various prisons in India, according to Indian authorities.
While India continues to deny Canada’s allegations, it is also coordinating with the United States. The U.S. last year implicated an Indian official in an unsuccessful plot to murder another Sikh separatist leader in New York. Jaiswal confirmed that the official named in the American indictment is no longer employed by the Indian government. The U.S. State Department, after meetings with Indian investigators, stated on Wednesday that it is satisfied with India’s cooperation in the probe into the foiled assassination attempt.
