
‘No evidence’: Under pressure, Canada denies media reports linking Nijjar killing to PM Modi, Jaishankar, Doval
The Canadian government issued a statement on Friday clarifying that there is no evidence to link Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his senior officials to any criminal activity in Canada, including the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
This clarification comes in response to a report from a Canadian newspaper, which cited an unnamed national security official alleging that the plot to murder Nijjar was orchestrated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The report also claimed that PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were informed about the plan.
However, the same report acknowledged that the Canadian government had no direct evidence to substantiate these allegations against India’s top leadership.
In its statement, the Canadian government distanced itself from the claims, emphasizing that there was no supporting evidence. “On October 14th, due to an ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials made public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada linked to agents of the Government of India,” the statement read. “However, the government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of any evidence connecting Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to these activities.”
The statement further dismissed the allegations as speculative and inaccurate, underscoring that Canada had not implicated any senior Indian officials in the case.
This clarification follows India’s strong rejection of the Canadian newspaper’s report, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling it “ludicrous” and a detrimental attempt to damage diplomatic ties. “We do not normally comment on media reports, but such baseless allegations should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” said Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties.”
India has consistently denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, dismissing the claims as “absurd” and politically motivated. The Indian government has also accused Canada of harboring pro-Khalistan extremist groups. Relations between the two countries have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s death in 2023.
Tensions escalated further last month when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) accused Indian agents of involvement in criminal activities on Canadian soil, including murder, extortion, and intimidation. In response, both countries expelled top diplomats, deepening the diplomatic rift.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. In connection with the murder, Canadian authorities arrested and charged four Indian nationals earlier this year.
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