Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday called a “rogue Hindutva terrorist state,” as Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
On June 18, 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, Canada, which boasts a substantial Sikh population. Nijjar had been an advocate for an independent Khalistani state and had been designated as a “terrorist” by India in July 2020.
Talking to the media in Lahore, PPP Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the international community to take notice of the situation and issue a clear statement.
Bhutto-Zardari emphasized that Canada had leveled a “significant allegation” against India, exposing it to the world.
He went further to state, “It is time for the international community to acknowledge that India has become a rogue Hindutva terrorist state.”
He underlined India’s alleged involvement in terrorism in Kashmir and claimed that Pakistan had apprehended Indian spies involved in terrorism within its borders.
Bhutto-Zardari asserted that India had now been caught violating the sovereignty of a NATO-member state, which not only violated Canadian sovereignty but also international law and norms.
He called upon Pakistan and the international community to support Canada and shed light on what he referred to as the “atrocities of the religio-fascist state that is today’s India.”
Canada, following an investigation, has claimed that it is actively pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of the Sikh separatist leader.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in an emergency statement to the House of Commons, condemned any foreign government’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen, deeming it “an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
Ottawa further escalated the situation by expelling India’s top intelligence agent and accusing India of complicity in Nijjar’s murder.
India swiftly responded by expelling a Canadian diplomat with a five-day notice to leave the country. New Delhi vehemently rejected the accusations, labeling them as “absurd and motivated.” India instead called on Canada to take legal action against anti-Indian elements operating from its soil.
