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Such “smear campaigns” further damage already strained ties between India and Canada, says MEA
India on Wednesday strongly rejected a Canadian media report alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The report also linked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the killing.
Responding to queries about the report, in Canadian publication Globe and Mail, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described them as “ludicrous statements”, adding that such “smear campaigns” further damaged the already strained ties between India and Canada.
“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,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on November 20, 2024.
In its report, the Globe and Mail cited a senior official saying Canadian security agencies believed Prime Minister Modi knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and other violent plots. According to the report, the official said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. NSA Doval and EAM Jaishankar were also in the loop, the report said, citing the official.
A diplomatic row was triggered last year between India and Canada after Prime Minister Trudeau made allegations in September 2023 about India’s potential involvement in the killing of Nijjar, who had been designated a terrorist by India. India has firmly rubbished Canada's allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and noting that the Trudeau administration has yet to provide any evidence to back this claim.
In October this year, Canada came out with a fresh set of allegations and claimed top Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, were “persons of interest” in the Nijjar murder case. This evoked a sharp reaction from India.
Issuing a strongly-worded statement on October 14, 2024, the MEA described these as “preposterous imputations” that were part of the “political agenda” of Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau centred around “vote-bank politics”. The MEA highlighted Prime Minister Trudeau’s “hostility to India” and his “naked interference in India’s internal politics”.
India later withdrew its High Commissioner to Ottawa and expelled six Canadian diplomats posted in New Delhi, including the Acting High Commissioner.
India has also repeatedly accused Canada of providing safe haven to those wanted on terrorism charges. In November 2023, the MEA said India had sought either extradition or assistance related to that of nearly 25 individuals over the years but the response had not been helpful at all.
Responding to queries about the report, in Canadian publication Globe and Mail, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described them as “ludicrous statements”, adding that such “smear campaigns” further damaged the already strained ties between India and Canada.
“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,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on November 20, 2024.
In its report, the Globe and Mail cited a senior official saying Canadian security agencies believed Prime Minister Modi knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and other violent plots. According to the report, the official said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. NSA Doval and EAM Jaishankar were also in the loop, the report said, citing the official.
A diplomatic row was triggered last year between India and Canada after Prime Minister Trudeau made allegations in September 2023 about India’s potential involvement in the killing of Nijjar, who had been designated a terrorist by India. India has firmly rubbished Canada's allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and noting that the Trudeau administration has yet to provide any evidence to back this claim.
In October this year, Canada came out with a fresh set of allegations and claimed top Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, were “persons of interest” in the Nijjar murder case. This evoked a sharp reaction from India.
Issuing a strongly-worded statement on October 14, 2024, the MEA described these as “preposterous imputations” that were part of the “political agenda” of Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau centred around “vote-bank politics”. The MEA highlighted Prime Minister Trudeau’s “hostility to India” and his “naked interference in India’s internal politics”.
India later withdrew its High Commissioner to Ottawa and expelled six Canadian diplomats posted in New Delhi, including the Acting High Commissioner.
India has also repeatedly accused Canada of providing safe haven to those wanted on terrorism charges. In November 2023, the MEA said India had sought either extradition or assistance related to that of nearly 25 individuals over the years but the response had not been helpful at all.
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