Image: ANI NEW DELHI: India’s high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has strongly rejected allegations linking the Indian government to the killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, questioning the lack of evidence to support the claims. Speaking in a televised interview on CBC News’ Power & Politics, Patnaik responded to allegations made by former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, repeatedly stressing that such accusations cannot be sustained without evidence.”Well, where is the evidence? Every time you keep on saying ‘credible information’,” Patnaik said. “We have always said it’s preposterous and absurd; it’s something we don’t do. These are allegations which have not been backed by evidence. There’s always easy-to-do acquisitions. Acquisitions are easy.” Patnaik said the ongoing legal proceedings in Canada do not implicate India and stressed that the allegations were based on statements by the former prime minister and his associates rather than evidence. He noted that the case before the court concerns four individuals, not a government, and questioned where any proof existed linking India as a state to the killing.“We can go into who said what. At the end of the day, it’s about evidence on the ground,” Patnaik said, reiterating India’s long-standing stance that it would act if credible proof were provided.”We have said very clearly, if there is evidence ever coming out, if you provide us evidence, we will take action ourselves. We don’t need you to take action on that. What we need is for you to give us evidence for us to take action,” he added.”You have accusations; you have to back it up with evidence. You can’t say I accuse you, and you have to now justify yourselves.”The remarks come against the backdrop of strained India–Canada relations in recent years, driven by New Delhi’s concerns over what it sees as Ottawa’s leniency towards Khalistani separatist elements.Ties have been further strained by Canada’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in the 2023 killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada.India has firmly denied the allegations, calling them “politically motivated.”Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit India in the coming weeks as both countries seek to diversify their trading partners amid US president Donald Trump’s trade war.The visit follows a commitment by the two leaders to begin negotiations on a new trade pact, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), announced during their meeting at the G20 Summit in South Africa last November.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi Says Tamil Culture Is India’s Shared Heritage, Pongal Strengthens Ek Bharat SpiritOperation Sindoor Showed Power Of Indian Youth, Says Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi In Defining MomentMultiple Pak Drones Sighted In J&K, Second Time In 48 Hours; Locals Recall HorrorMarco Rubio Talks To Jaishankar On India-US Trade Deal Talks, Congratulates On Enacting Nuclear BillTibetan Government-In-Exile Urges India To Understand China’s Colonial MindsetAustralia Moves India to Highest-Risk AL3 Category for Student Visas“I Too Want to Help Develop an India Where We Listen…” Rahul Gandhi During Student InteractionCentre Steps In To Scrap 10 Minute Delivery Timers After Safety Fears In India’s Gig Economy GrowMarvel Meets Maharashtra Politics, AI Reels On Civic Polls Turn Thanos, Hulk, Spider-Man Into NetasUS Threatens 25% Tariff on India-Iran Trade, Indian Rice Exporters Warn of Losses123Photostories10 countries with the highest number of vegetariansHow to raise leaders: Lessons from Sadhguru parents should learn and understand firstNo rice on Ekadashi? 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NEW DELHI: India’s high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has strongly rejected allegations linking the Indian government to the killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, questioning the lack of evidence to support the claims. Speaking in a televised interview on CBC News’ Power & Politics, Patnaik responded to allegations made by former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, repeatedly stressing that such accusations cannot be sustained without evidence.“Well, where is the evidence? Every time you keep on saying ‘credible information’,” Patnaik said. “We have always said it’s preposterous and absurd; it’s something we don’t do. These are allegations which have not been backed by evidence. There’s always easy-to-do acquisitions. Acquisitions are easy.” Patnaik said the ongoing legal proceedings in Canada do not implicate India and stressed that the allegations were based on statements by the former prime minister and his associates rather than evidence. He noted that the case before the court concerns four individuals, not a government, and questioned where any proof existed linking India as a state to the killing.“We can go into who said what. At the end of the day, it’s about evidence on the ground,” Patnaik said, reiterating India’s long-standing stance that it would act if credible proof were provided.“We have said very clearly, if there is evidence ever coming out, if you provide us evidence, we will take action ourselves. We don’t need you to take action on that. What we need is for you to give us evidence for us to take action,” he added.“You have accusations; you have to back it up with evidence. You can’t say I accuse you, and you have to now justify yourselves.”The remarks come against the backdrop of strained India–Canada relations in recent years, driven by New Delhi’s concerns over what it sees as Ottawa’s leniency towards Khalistani separatist elements.Ties have been further strained by Canada’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in the 2023 killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada.India has firmly denied the allegations, calling them “politically motivated.”Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit India in the coming weeks as both countries seek to diversify their trading partners amid US president Donald Trump’s trade war.The visit follows a commitment by the two leaders to begin negotiations on a new trade pact, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), announced during their meeting at the G20 Summit in South Africa last November.
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1776198165_photo.jpg "Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
