‘Ludicrous, smear campaign’
New Delhi: A report from The Globe and Mail asserts that India’s National Security Advisor and External Affairs Minister were aware of a conspiracy to assassinate Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India has dismissed the Canadian media report as a “smear campaign,” which alleged that the Indian Prime Minister was informed of a supposed plot against the Sikh separatist.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, criticized the report, which cited an unnamed Canadian official, describing the claims as “ludicrous statements” that warrant outright rejection. “While we typically refrain from commenting on media reports, such absurd assertions attributed to a Canadian government source should be treated with the disdain they deserve,” he stated.
Jaiswal emphasized that smear campaigns of this nature only exacerbate the already tense relations between India and Canada. His remarks were made in response to inquiries regarding the article published in The Globe and Mail. The report indicated that a senior national security official claimed both India’s NSA and External Affairs Minister were aware of the alleged plot.
Nijjar was shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023, leading Canadian authorities to arrest and charge four Indian nationals in connection with the murder. India has consistently maintained that Canada has not provided any evidence to substantiate its claims of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s death.
The Indian government has reiterated that Canada has failed to present any proof linking Indian agents to the assassination of Nijjar, who has already been designated a terrorist by New Delhi. Relations between India and Canada significantly deteriorated last month after Canada accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats of being involved in the murder.
In its reaction, India expelled six diplomats from Canada and recalled its own envoy after Ottawa labeled the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the inquiry concerning the assassination of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India further denounced Canada’s actions as “preposterous” and charged the government of Justin Trudeau with advancing a political agenda. New Delhi took the step of expelling Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler along with five additional diplomats in response to the allegations made by Canada.
