Question Of Equitable Treatment For US, Canada Does Not Arise Because...: Jaishankar In Rajya Sabha

In response to a supplementary question from CPI(M) MP John Brittas during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar said that an inquiry committee had been formed in the case of the US allegation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that there was no question of "equitable treatment" of the US and Canada in relation to allegations that Indian officials were involved in the targeting of Khalistan separatists in both countries, because one had provided input to India and the other had not.

In response to a supplementary question from CPI(M) MP John Brittas during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar stated that an inquiry committee had been formed in the case of the US allegation.

An unnamed Indian official was implicated in the plot to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, according to a US Department of Justice indictment issued last week.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on the other hand, claimed in September that the Indian government was involved in the June assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Jaishankar clarified that there was no question of the two matters being treated equally.

"Insofar as the US is concerned, certain inputs were given to us as part of our security cooperation with the United States. Those inputs were of concern to us because they related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters. Because it has a bearing on our own national security, it was decided to institute an inquiry into the matter and an inquiry committee has been constituted. In terms of Canada, no specific evidence or inputs were provided to us. As a result, the issue of equitable treatment of two countries, one of which has provided inputs and one of which has not, does not arise," he said.

Brittas had asked, in response to news reports about the two cases, "Is it true that we are not receiving equitable treatment?"

Earlier, on September 18, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive allegation of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the June 18 killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. India has strongly condemned Trudeau's allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated".