US Calls Allegations Against Amit Shah Concerning; RCMP Admits Canada Criminals’ Role In India [Watch]

Bhubaneswar: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commissioner Mike Duheme has acknowledged that there could be distinct possibility that Canadian criminals are directing operators in India.

While appearing at a parliamentary committee, amid escalating diplomatic row with India, he said: “I mean after coming out on October 14th. Anything possible. We can’t discount that but that’s the importance of working with our colleague in India so we can work together and address the people were involved.”

This was his reply to Canadian MP Glenn Motz’s question: “You had mentioned here just a couple of minutes ago that it’s reasonable to assume and in fact, is occurring that India also experiences violent extremism differently than we do here. You indicated that’s a reality. Now is it that possible criminals from Canada are giving directions to operators in India just like alleged vice versa for Canada?”

The RCMP had earlier accused India of homicides, extortion and violent acts targeting pro-Khalistan supporters. It alleged that Indian government agents used organised crime, like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, for information collection and Indian diplomats participated in these secretive activities.

India has called Sikh separatists or Khalistanis, demanding independent homeland carved out of India, “terrorists” and a threat to its security.

Meanwhile, United States on Wednesday termed Canada’s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah as “concerning”.

“The allegations made by the government of Canada are concerning, and we will continue to consult with the Canadian government about those allegations,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.

Ottawa has accused Shah of being behind a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison, told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that he had confirmed the identity of Amit Shah in The Washington Post report alleging that he was behind the campaign of targeting Khalistani separatists. “The journalist called me and asked if it was that person. I confirmed it was that person,” he said.

According to Reuters, Canada told India about the Union Home Minister’s alleged role in the plots around October last year but  New Delhi found the information very weak and flimsy.

Though India has not immediately respond to these allegations, it has dismissed Canada’s prior accusations as baseless, denying any involvement.

Earlier this month, the Narendra Modi government recalled Indian high commissioner Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats after they were declared a “person of interest” by Canada in its investigation into the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, labelled a terrorist by India.

India also expelled six Canadian diplomats.