Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that his authorities defends the rights of residents to “speak out” even when it irritates the Narendra Modi authorities in New Delhi.

Trudeau made this assertion within the context of questions on allegations of Indian interference in Canada’s inner affairs. “The previous Conservative government was known for its very cosy relationship with the current Indian government whereas our government has always stood up to defend the minorities in Canada and the rights of minorities to speak out even if it irritates their home countries overseas.”

These remarks got here as a part of an almost three-hour lengthy look by Trudeau earlier than the continuing Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, which is headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue.

He additionally referred to his assertion within the House of Commons on September 18 final 12 months about there being “credible allegations” of a possible hyperlink between Indian brokers and the killing of pro-Khalistan determine Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, three months earlier.

“How we stood up for Canadians, including the very serious that I brought forward of the killing of Nijjar, demonstrates our government’s commitment to defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians. He cited “how we stood up for Canadians, including the very serious case that I brought forward to parliament of the killing of Nijjar, demonstrates our government’s commitment to defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians.”

Those rights, he stated, included these to be free from “extortion, coercion, interference by a country that they left behind”.

While the give attention to the Inquiry has largely been on the international interference actions carried out by China, notably within the 2019 and 2021 elections, it has additionally seen paperwork launched by intelligence companies that time to such exercise by different international locations together with India, Russia, Iran and Pakistan.