Ottawa: The government in Canada, led by Justin Trudeau, on Friday denied linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada.
“The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” a statement from the national security and intelligence advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, Nathalie G Drouin, read.
“On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India,” the statement read further.
The statement India strongly declined a report published in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that indicated a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval.
India’s ministry of external affairs had stated that such allegations should be dismissed with the “contempt they deserve”.
The MEA had also stated that “smear campaigns” like this only “further damage our already strained ties”.
“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. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal had said.
India’s relationship with Canada deteriorated with New Delhi repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada. India has also asked Canadian authorities to take action against such alleged activities.
The ties hit a rock bottom as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that he had “credible allegations” of India’s involvement hand in the killing of Nijjar in Canada last year.
India has denied all the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.” Earlier, India had also recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared “persons of interest” by the Canadian government in the probe in Nijjar’s murder.
The Khalistani terrorist was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.
