On Friday, the Justin Trudeau government denied claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were involved in any criminal activities in Canada.
A statement from Nathalie G. Drouin, Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor, clarified:
The government of Canada has no evidence connecting these individuals to serious criminal activity within Canada. It further emphasized that any such claims were speculative and inaccurate.
The statement referred to an earlier October 14 announcement when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and officials made public accusations about Indian agents allegedly committing serious criminal activities in Canada. This move was made due to a significant and ongoing threat to public safety.
India Strongly Rejects Media Report
The Indian government reacted strongly on November 20, dismissing a Globe and Mail report that attempted to link Hardeep Nijjar’s death—a terrorist designated by NIA—to PM Modi, S. Jaishankar, and Ajit Doval.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the report ludicrous and advised it be dismissed with contempt. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, such smear campaigns only further strained the deteriorating ties between India and Canada.
Growing Diplomatic Tensions
The India-Canada diplomatic relationship has soured significantly in recent months. India has repeatedly expressed concerns about extremism, violence, and anti-India activities within Canada. India has urged Canadian authorities to take stronger actions against these activities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier claimed that he had credible allegations connecting India to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. However, India strongly rejected these allegations, calling them absurd and motivated.
In response to the allegations, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were labeled as persons of interest in the Najjar investigation.
Nijjar, who was killed on June 18, 2023, outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, remains a central figure in the ongoing India-Canada tensions.
