A Canadian media story that said the Indian prime minister knew of a purported conspiracy to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was denounced by India on Wednesday as a “smear campaign.”
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised the report, which quoted an unnamed Canadian official, labelling the claims as “ludicrous statements” deserving outright rejection.
“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” he said.
Jaiswal said that smear campaigns like this only worsen the already strained ties between India and Canada. He was addressing media queries about the report published in the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.
The report, published in The Globe and Mail, cited inputs from a senior national security official and alleged that India’s national security advisor (NSA) and external affairs minister were also aware of the purported lot.
Nijjar was shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023, and Canadian officials apprehended and accused four Indian nationals with his murder.
India has constantly asserted that Canada has failed to produce any proof to back its claim of Indian government complicity in Nijjar’s death.
The Indian side has consistently said that Canada has not produced any proof to support its accusation that Indian government operatives were involved in the death of Nijjar, who has already been branded a terrorist by New Delhi.
India-Canada ties worsened dramatically last month, when Canada accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other officials of participation in the murder.
In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador after Ottawa named the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the inquiry into the death of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has called Canada’s actions “preposterous” and accused the Justin Trudeau administration of having a political motive.
Following the claims made by Canada, New Delhi dismissed Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: HT
