Canada reluctant to execute over decade-long 26 extradition requests involving Lawrence Bishnoi gangsters: India

Amid a year-long simmering diplomatic row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar that recently led two countries to order the expulsion of their diplomats, India on Oct 17 said that at least 26 extradition requests mostly involving members of the dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang are pending with Canada for over a decade and so far no action has been taken by that government.

Addressing a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Canada is reluctant to extradite members associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

“As many as 26 extradition requests are pending with the Canadian side for over a decade or more. There are several provisional arrest requests of certain criminals also pending with that government. We understand there is a political motive also behind this," said Jaiswal.

“So far no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our request. We find it really strange that now people who we wanted to be deported or action to be taken, we are being told that Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP is blaming India for the crimes committed by these people in Canada,” added Jaiswal.

Apart from some high-profile crimes including the killing of popular Punjab singer Sidhu Moose Wala in recent years, the notorious Bishnoi gang last week killed prominent Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in Maharastra, according to police.

The MEA remarks come a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before the public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, claiming the Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians who are in disagreement with the Narendra Modi-led government and passing it to the highest levels within the Indian government and criminal organizations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Reacting to the development, the MEA in a statement on Oct 17 said what it has heard repeatedly “confirms” New Delhi’s consistent stand that Canada has “presented us no evidence” in support of the serious allegations Ottawa chose to level against India and Indian diplomats.

The RCMP recently alleged that the Bishnoi gang is connected to the agents of the Indian government, which is targeting the South Asian community specifically “pro-Khalistani elements” in Canada.

During the briefing, Jaiswal reiterated that so far no evidence has been shared by Canada about the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

“The current crisis in the India-Canada relationship has been precipitated by the Trudeau government’s baseless allegations against India and its diplomats,” he said.

Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa hit new lows last year after the Canadian government said it was investigating a link between Indian government agents and the killing of a Sikh leader, Nijjar, on Canada’s west coast.

To make the matters worse, Prime Minister Trudeau recently said that the federal RCMP has uncovered “clear and compelling evidence” that Indian government agents have engaged, and continue to engage, in activities that threaten public safety.