India rejects Canadian media report linking PM Modi & EAM Jaishankar to Nijjar's killing, calls it 'ludicrous'

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ET OnlineLast Updated: Nov 20, 2024, 11:48:00 PM IST

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly rejected a Canadian media report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and NSA Ajit Doval to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The report, citing a Canadian security official, suggested that PM Modi was aware of the plot, though it admitted there was no direct evidence of this.

**EDS: SCREENGRAB VIA PM INDIA WEBSITE** New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi... — Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly dismissed a Canadian media report that linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The report alleged that PM Modi was aware of the plot to kill Nijjar in British Columbia.

MEA said, 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," MEA added.

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Canadian news outlet, The Globe and Mail, citing a Canadian national-security official, said "Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and other violent plots."

The report also claimed that the security official said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. "Also in the loop, the official said, was Mr. Modi’s trusted national-security adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar."

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Canada has 'no evidence'

"While Canada does not have direct evidence that Modi knew, the Canadian official said the assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with Modi before proceeding," as per the report.

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Strained India-Canada ties

The diplomatic clash between the two nations started with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s decision to publicly accuse India of being allegedly involved in the assassination of Nijjar last year without providing “hard evidentiary proof” to India.

India also recalled six of its diplomats including the high commissioner, and expelled as many Canadian envoys after Canada's claims.

The diplomatic spat escalated to unprecedented levels when Canada dragged Home Minister Amit Shah into its allegations.

Canada's National Security and Intelligence Adviser Nathalie Drouin and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison, members of the national security committee of the Canadian Parliament confirmed a leaked Washington Post reports alleging that Shah was behind the campaign of targeting Khalistani separatists in Canada.

India, responding to the allegation said, "Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties."

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