S Jaishankar: No substantial evidence to warrant probe by Indian agencies in Nijjar case

S Jaishankar in Mumbai/ Shadab Khan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed concerns over Canada's recent arrest in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, adding that India has not received any concrete information that warrants an investigation by its probe authorities.

At a press conference in Mumbai, Jaishankar emphasised India's willingness to cooperate with any investigation if Ottawa has significant evidence of violence that can be investigated in India.

IN PHOTOS: S Jaishankar, on Mumbai visit, says India hasn`t received anything worth probe on Nijjar case

6 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

"We have never received anything which is specific and worthy of being pursued by our investigative agencies and I am not aware that anything has changed in the last few days in that regard," the minister said when asked about Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing.

He emphasised that it is standard consular practice to notify the government or embassy of the country of origin when foreign nationals are arrested, reported PTI.

According to the report, Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45), was killed on June 18, 2023 outside the Guru Nanak Sinkh Gurudwara in British Columbia's Surrey.

Canadian authorities have detained a fourth Indian national in connection with Nijjar's murder, following the arrest of three others in the investigation. Amandeep Singh, 22, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, the PTI report added.

EAM Jaishankar also reiterated India's stand on merging the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir with the nation even as the Pakistan government has intensified their protest against it. Jaishankar said that India will one day "end the illegal occupation" of the PoK and it will be joined with India.

"These days, a lot of things are going on at the POK. You must have seen some incidents happening there. Now, Modi government, we are very clear on this. Parliament's resolution, we are very clear that POK is a part of India. It is part of India, it was always part of India, it will be part of India," EAM said during a media interaction at a seminar on Indian Capital Markets 'Roadmap for Viksit Bharat' at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), per ANI report.

"And we definitely have this intention. that one day we will end the illegal occupation of the POK and the POK will join with India. Now you see that the opposition is in the opposite direction," he added.

With ANI inputs