NEW DELHI: Indian govt quickly rebutted a report in the Canadian media alleging that PM Narendra Modi might have been aware of the plot to kill Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, with ministry of external affairs saying in a statement that such smear campaigns would only further damage the strained relationship.
The Globe and Mail report, attributed to an anonymous senior national security official who worked on the “intelligence assessment” of alleged Indian foreign-interference operations in Canada, also linked external affairs minister S Jaishankar to the plot.
“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian govt source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Canada had earlier officially said that home minister Amit Shah had ordered attacks on Khalistani separatists active in the country.
“While Canada does not have direct evidence that Modi knew, the 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,” the Globe report said.
It also quoted the unidentified official as saying Canadian and American intelligence had tied the assassination operations to Shah. “Also in the loop, the official said, was Modi’s trusted national security adviser Ajit Doval and EAM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,” it said.
According to the report, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said he had spoken to Indian officials about New Delhi’s foreign-interference activities in Canada.