UK takes allegations by Trudeau seriously but will continue trade negotiations

The United Kingdom has taken the allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the possible involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar seriously, but will continue with its trade negotiations with India, according to a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Nijjar was found dead in his apartment in the Philippines in October 2021. He had been shot multiple times in the head. The Philippine police initially ruled his death a suicide, but his family and friends have disputed this claim, alleging that he was murdered. In December 2021, the Indian government asked the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes the UK, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, for assistance in the investigation. The alliance has since been providing intelligence and support to the Philippine authorities. In a statement on September 19, 2023, the UK spokesperson said: "We are aware of the allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and are taking them seriously. We are working with our partners to investigate these allegations and to ensure that the investigation is fair and thorough."

However, the spokesperson also said that the UK would continue with its trade negotiations with India. The UK and India are currently negotiating a free trade agreement, which could boost bilateral trade by billions of pounds. The spokesperson said: "Trade negotiations with India are ongoing and we are committed to reaching an agreement that benefits both countries." The UK's decision to continue with its trade negotiations with India despite the allegations against the Indian government is likely to be controversial. Some critics have argued that the UK should not be doing business with a country that is accused of human rights abuses. However, the UK government has argued that trade can be a force for good and that it can help to promote democracy and human rights. The government has also said that it is committed to raising human rights concerns with India directly. It remains to be seen how the allegations against the Indian government will affect the UK's trade negotiations with India. However, the UK's decision to continue with the negotiations is a sign that the UK government is still committed to building a closer relationship with India.