'World will become more dangerous if...': Trudeau on India-Canada row
PTC News Desk: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doubled down his claims over Canadian citizen and Sikh leader Hardeep Nijjar's killing on Sunday and said that the world will become "more dangerous" for everyone "if bigger countries can violate international law without consequences".
In his fresh remarks on the diplomatic face-off with India, PM Trudeau said that Canada wants to "work constructively" with India on this "very serious matter". His remarks came as he addressed the media at the launch of a countrywide smart energy grid.
On being asked whether the US should take up the matter with India on Canada's behalf, Trudeau said, "From the very beginning, when we learned of credible allegations that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, we reached out to India to ask them to work with us in getting to the bottom of this matter."
"We also reached out to our friends and allies, such as the United States and others, to work on these extremely serious violations of international law and democratic sovereignty," he said, adding "This is something we take very seriously, and we will continue working together with all partners as law enforcement and investigative agencies carry out their responsibilities.
"Canada is a country that will always stand up for the rule of law because if might starts to make right, if bigger countries can violate international law without consequences, then the whole world gets more dangerous for everyone," the Canadian PM added.
Canada 'disappointed' on India's 'violation' of Vienna Convention
When asked if Canadian MP Chandra Arya's invitation to Indian envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma for an event during the diplomatic standoff was appropriate, he said Canada wants to "work constructively" with India on this "very serious matter."
"We have reached out to the Indian government and global partners to get to the bottom of this and to take it seriously. That is why we were so disappointed when India violated the Vienna Convention and arbitrarily revoked the diplomatic immunity of over 40 Canadian diplomats stationed in India," he said.
"We have serious reasons to believe that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil." And India's response has been to expel a large number of Canadian diplomats by violating their Vienna Convention rights," Canada's Prime Minister added.
- With inputs from agencies
