New Delhi

Indian opposition has come down hard on Canadian leader Justin Trudeau for blaming India and Indian diplomats for the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader branded a terrorist by New Delhi, on Canadian soil last year despite lack of ‘hard evidence’.

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India’s main opposition party Congress went as far as saying that Trudeau was a ‘joke’. Earlier, the Indian grand old party had urged the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the country’s opposition in confidence over the escalating diplomatic row with Canada.

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed took to X to criticise Trudeau for blaming India despite himself citing lack of ‘hard evidence’ suggesting New Delhi’s role.

“A world leader makes accusations based on intelligence inputs without any shred of evidence! He is a joke," she wrote.

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Also read: Trudeau accused of allowing China a free run as he locks horns with New Delhi

Senior lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there may be pressure from the Khalistani community that has made Trudeau prioritise political interests above national ones.

In a post on X, Singhvi said that "fear was spreading among Canadian sycophants" and suggested that it might be due to the general elections next year.

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Saket Gokhale, a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament; and a member of the opposition Trinamool Congress party, called out Trudeau for “sheer hypocrisy”.

Also read: Justin Trudeau admits Canada had no ‘hard proof’ of India’s role in Nijjar killing, only ‘intel’

Gokhale also took on Canada as well its Five Eyes alliance partners who have backed Ottawa’s allegations.

"Israel entering Lebanon is 'anti terrorism' & 'self defence'. But while Hezbollah are terrorists for Canada, the US, & UK, people like Nijjar are termed as 'activists'... To hold Israel’s enemies as terrorists but India’s enemies as 'activists' is a purely shameless example of double standards,” the MP pointed out.

"The sheer hypocrisy of Canada’s PM Trudeau & his 'Five Eyes' allies is astonishing," the MP added.

The opposition’s backing comes at a time when the Modi government is engaged in a fierce diplomatic battle with Canada’s Trudeau government. India on Tuesday withdrew its six top diplomats from Ottawa and expelled six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.