Ottawa:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he was confident US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would raise the issue of the killing of a Sikh separatist leader with his Indian counterpart when the two meet later in the day.

Trudeau made his comments to reporters in Quebec 10 days after Canada announced that Indian government agents were suspected in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia province in June.

Also read: Top Indian, US diplomats to meet in Washington amid tensions in Canada

Blinken is scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar on Thursday. Asked directly whether Blinken would raise the matter, Trudeau replied: “The Americans will certainly discuss this matter with the Indian government.”

India has rejected Canada’s allegations as absurd. Jaishankar, however, said on Tuesday that New Delhi has told Canada that it is ready to look into any “specific” or “relevant” information provided in connection with the killing.