Tensions Escalate as Indian Government Denies Involvement in Sikh Leader’s Killing, Calls Canadian Claims ‘Smear Campaign

India has strongly rejected a Canadian report suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling the allegations part of a “smear campaign.” The report, published by The Globe and Mail, claimed that Modi, along with key Indian officials such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, were informed about the plan to eliminate Nijjar, who was gunned down in June 2023 in Surrey, Canada.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, dismissed the claims, emphasizing that such accusations are baseless and only serve to further damage the already strained relations between India and Canada. He added that media reports based on unnamed sources should be disregarded.

Canadian officials, however, allege that the plot to kill Nijjar was masterminded by Shah, with discussions reportedly taking place at the highest levels of the Indian government. The allegations have sparked diplomatic tensions, with Canada accusing India of interfering in its sovereignty.

The dispute intensified after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made public accusations against India regarding its involvement in the killing of Nijjar, which led to the expulsion of Indian diplomats and further deteriorated bilateral relations. Trudeau has maintained that India’s actions in Canada are a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

The case has also drawn in US intelligence agencies, with reports indicating cooperation between the US and Canada to investigate the suspected role of Indian officials in the killing of Nijjar and other prominent activists. Despite India’s denials, the controversy continues to unfold, with Canadian authorities claiming that the evidence points to a coordinated effort by India to target Sikh separatists abroad.

As tensions rise, diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute are ongoing, with both nations taking measures to address the allegations while trying to maintain their fragile relationship.

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