RCMP Commissioner says it’s ‘important’ to build relationships with India

FILE: RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme speaks during a press conference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

While India continues to dismiss allegations linking Indian diplomats to homicides and extortions, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says it’s important to “build relationships with India.”

When asked directly by reporters in Ottawa on Thursday if the RCMP was receiving more evidence on those cases from India, Duheme wouldn’t answer directly.

“That file is before the courts, so I’m not going to discuss that. It’s following its path,” Duheme said. “It’s important just to build relationships with India.”

Duheme also said he went to India – along with National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin – to meet with his counterpart in September, during which “respective security concerns” were discussed, according to a statement.

“We all want the same things. They’re facing terrorist acts in their respective country. And we want to make sure that we work together and identify these key people,” Duheme added.

The commissioner’s comments come just days after India’s new high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, told CTV’s Question Period in an exclusive broadcast interview that Canada’s allegations against India are “preposterous and absurd” and “without any substantial evidence.”

Relations between Canada and India have been strained since 2023, when former prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar earlier that year.

A year later, the RCMP and the federal government accused Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada of engaging in clandestine activities linked to serious criminal activity in this country, including homicides and extortions.

In response to those allegations, Canada expelled six diplomats, including former high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. India kicked out six Canadian diplomats in retaliation.

India has denied any involvement, and Canadian officials have previously said India refused to co-operate in an investigation.

But amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, relations between the two countries have publicly improved.

Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in June, while Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met again with Modi during a trip to India last week, after which both countries released a statement expressing support for more trade.

In an interview with CTV’s Power Play in June, Duheme had also described ongoing talks with Indian officials as “good.”

But when asked directly by CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos whether India is cooperating in an investigation, Patnaik acknowledged that security officials are in “the process of building up the relationship again,” but insisted India is “still waiting for any evidence to be given.”

On Thursday, Duheme also would not answer when asked if the RCMP has sent evidence to India.

CTV News has also reached out to the RCMP for an official response on Patnaik’s claims that India is still waiting for evidence and have not yet received a response.

With files from CTV New’s Rachel Hanes and Spencer Van Dyk