On Friday, the Justin Trudeau administration rejected any connection between criminal activity in Canada and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
“The government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada,” a statement from the national security and intelligence advisor to the Canadian prime minister Nathalie G Drouin said. “Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” it added.
The statement also said on October 14, because of a “significant and ongoing threat to public safety”, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP and officials took the “extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India”.
The Canadian government’s reply follows India’s emphatic denial of a claim in a Canadian publication on November 20 that sought to link PM Narendra Modi, S Jaishankar, and Ajit Doval to the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar.
The ministry of external affairs said it should be dismissed with the “contempt they deserve”. The MEA had emphasised “smear campaigns” like this only “further damage our already strained ties”.
“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal.
India has frequently expressed its profound worry over extremism, the culture of violence, and anti-Indian activities in Canada, and it has urged Canadian authorities to take action against these activities. As a result, India’s relations with Canada have suffered a dramatic decline.
Last year, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, stated that he had “credible allegations” that India was involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
India has refuted all of the accusations, describing them as “absurd” and “motivated.” It has also charged that Canada is allowing anti-Indian and extremist elements to flourish in their nation.
Six Canadian diplomats were previously recalled by India after the Canadian government designated them as “persons of interest” in the probe into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On June 18 of last year, Nijjar was slain outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
