New Delhi/Ottawa, 22nd November 2024: On Friday, Canada issued a clarification, stating that it has no evidence connecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, or National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to any criminal activities within the country.
A statement from Justin Trudeau’s intelligence advisor read, “On October 14, due to a significant and ongoing public safety threat, the RCMP and Canadian officials made public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada, allegedly carried out by agents of the Indian government.” It further clarified, “The government of Canada has not, nor does it possess any evidence linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to such activities in Canada. Any suggestions to the contrary are speculative and incorrect.”
This statement follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier accusations in October, where he claimed India was conducting covert operations in Canada, posing a serious threat to public safety. Trudeau asserted that Canadian officials had repeatedly attempted to engage with Indian authorities but faced consistent rejections. The Prime Minister also stated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had gathered substantial evidence connecting Indian government agents to activities like surveillance and coercion, including involvement in criminal acts. Trudeau condemned these actions and emphasized Canada’s sovereignty.
India has strongly denied these allegations, calling them baseless and politically driven. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accused Trudeau’s government of using anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gain, citing his past associations with groups advocating for separatism in India. The MEA also criticized Canada’s hosting of extremist elements, especially amidst investigations into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In response to the accusations, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its High Commissioner from Canada. Additionally, India’s government dismissed any involvement by Modi in Nijjar’s murder as “ludicrous” and asserted that such claims were politically motivated, further deteriorating relations between the two countries.
On Wednesday, the MEA rejected Canadian media reports linking PM Modi to a plot to kill pro-Khalistan separatist Nijjar in Canada. The MEA called the reports “ludicrous” and urged their dismissal. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked, “While we generally refrain from commenting on media reports, such baseless claims made by a Canadian government source should be dismissed outright. Smear campaigns like these only exacerbate the already strained relationship between the nations.” The reports, published by The Globe and Mail, alleged that Canadian officials believed Modi had prior knowledge of Nijjar’s death and other violent activities in Canada.