Ottawa, Oct 17
In a massive embarrassment for Canada, the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday admitted that Ottawa only provided some intelligence inputs and no hard proof before accusing India of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Testifying before the country's foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau admitted that New Delhi had demanded the sharing of proof -- something that India has been insisting on till date -- after the allegations.
"At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof," the Canadian PM admitted in an on-camera hearing before the committee.
As he harped on having "credible evidence" on India's involvement, Trudeau also spoke on the alleged role of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Nijjar's killing.
The Canadian PM, slammed by India for spreading a false narrative, is currently struggling to contain growing calls for his removal from within his party.
Earlier on Wednesday, long-time Charlottetown Liberal MP Sean Casey openly called for Trudeau's resignation as the head of the party.
"People have had enough. They've tuned him out and they want him to go," Casey told CBC News Network in an interview.
"The message that I've been getting loud and clear -- and more and more strongly as time goes by -- is that it is time for (Trudeau) to go. And I agree," he added.
Casey, during his interview with 'Power & Politics' show host David Cochrane, said that there is a "high level of anxiety" in the Liberal caucus over Trudeau's leadership.
"I would say it's wider than meets the eye. There are a lot of people who have concerns," he said.