US, Canada issues not the same: Jaishankar on allegations against India

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said the recent issues raised by the US and Canada against India "are not necessarily the same". Both countries have alleged links between India and a plot to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, as well as the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"The point was when Americans brought up some issues and the two issues are not necessarily the same. When they brought up that issue, the Americans told us some specific things," said Jaishankar during an event in Bengaluru.

He added that India is a responsible and prudent country and is always open to examine inputs given by any other country.

"I think everybody knows that India is a country where we are very responsible, we are very prudent about what we do. The whole issue for us has been that we have always maintained that any country, not just Canada, has a concern and gives us some input or some basis for that concern, we are always open to look at it. This is what countries do," said Jaishankar.

The Foreign Minister said such "challenges" can arise from time to time in international relations. "So we very sincerely told the Canadians, saying that it's up to you, I mean your choice, whether you would like us to pursue it, further look into it or not," added Jaishankar.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged there was a "potential link between agents of the Government of India" and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. He was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18 this year.

India denied the allegations raised by Canada and called them "absurd" and "motivated".

Months later, in November, the US Justice Department charged a 52-year-old Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, with involvement in an alleged murder plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Further, the Justice Department said Gupta colluded with an Indian government agency employee in the alleged plot.