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India Dismisses Canadian Media Report on Nijjar Murder Allegations
India has firmly rejected a report published by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
The report, citing an unnamed Canadian government source, has further escalated tensions between the two countries.
India Terms Report “Ludicrous”
Responding to the allegations, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims as baseless. “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,” said Jaiswal. He added that such smear campaigns only worsen already strained relations between India and Canada.
Allegations Against Indian Officials
The Globe and Mail report suggested that Canadian and American intelligence linked the Nijjar assassination to high-ranking Indian officials, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The report claimed that these officials were allegedly part of the intelligence operations.
India-Canada Relations at Breaking Point
Diplomatic ties between India and Canada reached a low on October 14 when Canadian authorities named Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, as “persons of interest” in the Nijjar murder probe. India retaliated by withdrawing its diplomats and expelling six Canadian envoys.
Adding to the controversy, Canadian police accused the Indian government of employing gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to conduct criminal operations in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also alleged that India had “repeatedly refused” to cooperate with the murder investigation.
The ongoing diplomatic crisis highlights the deepening mistrust between the two nations, with accusations and counterclaims clouding efforts to repair bilateral relations.
