Canada refutes claims of evidence connecting India's PM Modi to violence

Canada, which recently expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations of their involvement in a plot against Sikh separatists, denied having any evidence linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to violence on Canadian soil.

Last month, Canada’s foreign ministry claimed that Amit Shah, seen as the second-highest official in Modi's government, was behind a campaign of intimidation in Canada. Ottawa also stated it had evidence connecting Indian government agents to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. However, this week, the Globe and Mail reported that Canadian security agencies believed Modi was aware of the violent plots, with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and national security adviser Ajit Doval also implicated.

In response, Nathalie Drouin, intelligence adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, issued a statement late Thursday denying these claims. “The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of any evidence linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to serious criminal activity in Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is speculative and inaccurate,” she stated.

Four Indian nationals have been charged in connection with Nijjar’s killing. India has categorically denied any involvement of its agents in violence against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

Canada has the largest Sikh population outside of Punjab, and demonstrations calling for a separate Sikh homeland have raised tensions with New Delhi, which considers these separatists to be terrorists posing a security threat.