New Delhi: India on Wednesday rubbished a Canadian newspaper report that alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of the plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, according to reports.
The Ministry of External Affairs has called such media reports as ‘ludicrous.’
“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,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, reported the India Today.
The diplomat claimed that such smear campaigns would damage the strained between both the countries.
The report that quoted an unnamed Canadian national security official claimed that the alleged assassination plot was orchestrated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and that PM Modi, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, were informed about the plan.
The report, however, also cited that Canada did not have any proof to support such claims.
“While Canada does not have direct evidence that Mr. 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 Mr. Modi before proceeding,” the news report mentioned.
This is the first time such accusations have been directly levelled against PM Modi, S Jaishankar, and Doval, escalating the controversy sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier charges.
Last year, India-Canada diplomatic relations hit a low after Trudeau alleged credible intelligence linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s killing. India has vehemently denied any involvement.