PM Modi’s Alleged Involvement in Nijjar Murder Plot
India has vehemently denied a recent Canadian media report implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This is the latest development in the heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after Nijjar was assassinated in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia.
The Globe and Mail Report on the Nijjar Murder Plot
That sparked controversy after a report in The Globe and Mail said Canadian security agencies believed Prime Minister Modi knew about the plot. The article cited an unnamed official who was involved in assessing the intelligence on India's foreign-interference operations in Canada. According to the report, the unnamed source linked the Indian government to the assassination, claiming that senior officials right up to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were involved.
India's Strong Response against Allegations
India was quick to respond to the report, and External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal joined the fray by condemning the claims as "ludicrous statements." Jaiswal made it known that such reports originating from an unnamed source should be treated with contempt. He also signaled a worry over how these unfounded allegations could affect the already strained relations between India and Canada.
"We do not normally comment on media reports," Jaiswal said. "However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve."
Strained India-Canada Relations Amid the Nijjar Murder Investigation
The India-Canada relationship had deteriorated for several months and touched a new low in October 2023, with the Canadian government naming Indian diplomats, including the Indian High Commissioner, as "persons of interest" in the Nijjar murder probe. In retaliation, India recalled diplomats and expelled six Canadian envoys. The Canadian police had also accused India of using gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to conduct criminal operations on Canadian soil, which India vigorously denied.
The spat between both countries began escalating further in September 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament that Indian agents had been involved in the assassination of Nijjar. India vehemently denied those accusations as being motivated and politically charged.
Conclusion: Impact on India-Canada Diplomatic Relations
With India and Canada still trying to work their way through these diplomatic tensions, The Globe and Mail has further stoked these flames with its latest report. While fingers have been pointed for some time now, accusing them of complicity in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it remains to be seen what path both countries will take in the coming days to mend their torn relations.
Key Takeaways:
- India denies Canadian media report that PM Modi was aware of Nijjar's murder plot.
- The report furthered that high-ranking officials from India were involved in the assassination of Nijjar.
- These continued allegations have seriously strained relations between India and Canada.
Further updates on this developing story to follow.