The Canadian government issued a statement on Friday saying that it has no evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, or National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to any criminal activities in Canada. This statement seeks to address concerns raised after Canadian officials accused agents of the Indian government of involvement in covert operations on Canadian soil.
On October 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of covert operations in Canada. Trudeau claimed these operations posed a substantial threat to public safety. Canadian authorities allegedly had compelling intelligence linking Indian agents to coercion and information-gathering.
They were also linked to criminal acts, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Given the strained relationship between the two countries, these allegations were especially sensitive, as longstanding tensions over issues like the Khalistani movement had already impacted their relationship.
In response to these allegations, Nathalie Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to Prime Minister Trudeau, issued a statement clarifying that they found no evidence directly connecting the aforementioned Indian leaders to the activities in question. The statement read, “The government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate.”
This clarification marks a reversal from the initial October statements made by Trudeau, who had described the operations as an ongoing threat to public safety. However, he had also acknowledged that the allegations were based on intelligence rather than hard evidence at the time. Trudeau had expressed disappointment in India’s refusal to cooperate in the investigation, despite Canada’s attempts to engage with Indian authorities.
In stark contrast, India has consistently denied all the allegations made by Canada, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed the Canadian statements as “ludicrous” and condemned them as part of a smear campaign that further damaged already fragile relations.
“Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” Jaiswal added.
The core of the diplomatic fallout lies in Canada’s accusations that India had been involved in actions targeting pro-Khalistani individuals and groups within Canada. Trudeau had specifically pointed to the passing of information about Canadians opposing the Modi government to Indian authorities. This allegedly led to acts of violence against them by India in Canada. The mention of organized crime groups, such as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, drew further attention to the allegations. India saw this as inflammatory and politically charged.
India has also taken issue with Canada’s alleged permissiveness in allowing separatist elements to operate within its borders. This includes providing platforms to groups advocating for the creation of an independent Khalistan. Khalistan has been a sensitive issue for India ever since Indira Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister. The Indian government has repeatedly stated that it views these activities as not only undermining India’s sovereignty but also destabilizing bilateral relations.
As of now, the investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani leader and Canadian citizen, remains ongoing. No conclusive evidence has been presented regarding the involvement of any foreign actors in the event. The unresolved nature of this investigation continues to add fuel to the diplomatic fire. Both sides are carefully managing their public statements in the hope of preventing further escalation.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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