Trudeau and Modi come face to face amid tension over murder case in Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed he had a "brief exchange" with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a summit in Laos, marking their second face-to-face meeting since Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist in British Columbia.

This meeting, which took place at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, comes a year after Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and announced that Canada was investigating "credible allegations" linking India to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau did not disclose the specifics of his conversation with Modi but emphasized the need for collaboration.

"I emphasized that there is work we need to do," Trudeau told reporters in Laos, adding, "I won't go into details about what we talked about, but I've always said that ensuring the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law is a fundamental responsibility of any Canadian government, and that's where my focus remains."

Nijjar was shot and killed by masked assailants outside a Sikh temple in June 2023. Four Indian nationals face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection to his death, with the case currently progressing through Canadian courts.

Just a day earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly described Canada's relationship with India as "tense" and "very difficult," warning of the potential for further killings similar to Nijjar's on Canadian soil. Joly testified at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference, stating that Canada has been urging India to cooperate in the investigation, but no progress has been made so far.

"We want to hold all those responsible for Nijjar's murder accountable and, importantly, prevent any further killings because the threat still exists," Joly said.

When asked about the ongoing threat, Trudeau reiterated his government's focus on protecting Canadians. "We are seeing troubling patterns of violence affecting Indo-Canadians across the country, and this is something we are taking very seriously," he said during a press conference in Vientiane, Laos, after the ASEAN Summit concluded.

Modi, who attended the summit and met with several world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, did not hold a bilateral meeting with Trudeau. The prime minister’s office did not disclose details about when and where the brief exchange took place.

India has consistently denied involvement in Nijjar's death, calling the allegation "absurd" and accusing Canada of harboring violent extremists. However, Trudeau reaffirmed his position in Laos, stating that Canada's security agencies and law enforcement remain "deeply engaged" on the matter.

"My statement regarding credible allegations of India's involvement in the death of a Canadian on Canadian soil still stands. Our government's priority is ensuring the safety of Canadians in their homes and communities across the country," Trudeau said.

Following Canada's allegations, the U.S. launched its own investigation into an alleged assassination plot with ties to India and Nijjar. A U.S. indictment unsealed in November 2023 alleged that New Delhi officials offered $100,000 to a drug dealer, Nikhil Gupta, to hire a hitman to kill U.S.-Canadian Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. The indictment also suggested that Gupta was considered for the murder of Nijjar.

India responded differently to the U.S. allegations, launching an investigation into the matter. According to Bloomberg News, India's investigation found "rogue operatives" who were not acting under government authorization may have been involved in the U.S. case.

Trudeau declined to comment on the discrepancy between India's responses to the Canadian and U.S. allegations when asked in Laos.

The last time Trudeau and Modi had a face-to-face interaction was in June during the G7 Summit in Italy, where they had a "brief discussion on the bilateral relationship." In July, Trudeau mentioned that he saw a potential opportunity to engage with India after Modi's re-election.

On Friday, Trudeau reiterated the need to maintain trade and people-to-people ties with India while addressing unresolved issues. He is scheduled to testify at the ongoing Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Ottawa on Wednesday, where he may face further questions regarding the threats linked to India.