India dismisses Canadian report alleging Modi’s knowledge of Nijjar assassination as ‘smear campaign’

Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, called a Canadian report that claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew about the conspiracy to kill Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar a "smear campaign" amid the ongoing deteriorating relations.

According to an anonymous Canadian official, Modi knew about the conspiracy to assassinate the Khalistani separatist. It added that the external affairs minister and the Indian national security advisor were also involved in the plan.

"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,” Jaiswal responded to the allegations.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused "agents" of Delhi of being involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver, a diplomatic crisis was sparked.

According to him, "credible information" had been shared with the US and other intelligence partners.

Canada linked the murder to Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and a few other officials last month.

"I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable," Trudeau said.

On Nov 13, a consular event at the Brampton Triveni Temple in Canada was canceled after Canadian police issued a warning about the "extremely high and imminent" threat level of violent protests.

India condemned the attack with an expectation that those indulging in violence "will be prosecuted.”

Following the clash, Trudeau acknowledged the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada, saying that there is a Khalistan support base in the country.

However, he quickly clarified that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.

India has repeatedly denied any connection to the killing of Nijjar, who the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has listed as a terrorist, and alleged that Trudeau's government was caving in to Khalistani supporters for political advantage.

India has strongly rejected any involvement in Nijjar's murder, an allegation made by the Trudeau government.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian envoy, claimed that terrorists and Khalistani extremists are "deep assets" of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Canada summoned Verma back after declaring senior diplomats as "persons of interest" in the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder.

India-Canada diplomatic relations are deteriorating due to repeated and unsubstantiated claims by Trudeau that "agents" of Delhi conspire with criminal gangs, including the Lawrence Bishnoi outfit, to "target (the) South Asians" in Canada.

Verma emphasized that since he was appointed High Commissioner in Canada in September 2022, "not a shred of evidence" has been shared with him.

In fact, according to Verma, India provided Canada with proof of extremist organizations, but "no action was taken."

The situation intensified when Canadian federal authorities connected the Bishnoi gang and named Verma, the longest-serving diplomat in India, as a "person of interest" in "homicide, extortion, intimidation, and coercion" incidents.

In response to Canada's treatment of Verma, New Delhi issued an order for Stewart Wheeler, the acting high commissioner of Ottawa, along with his deputy and four first secretaries, to depart from the country by midnight on Oct 13.

On Oct 14, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, accusing them of being part of a larger plot to attack Indian dissidents in Canada and connecting them to the death of Sikh separatist leader Nijjar.

Verma was also designated as a 'persona non grata,' a diplomatic term that means a ‘person who is no longer welcome.’ He is the first Indian diplomat to ever be treated as such.