India on Wednesday strongly condemned, terming as a defamatory campaign, a Canadian media report which claimed that the Indian Prime Minister was aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This report has been published quoting an unnamed official.
What did the Indian government say?
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such ridiculous statements should be rejected with the contempt they deserve. “Such a defamatory campaign further damages our already strained relations,” he said. Was answering media questions regarding the published report.
What was claimed in the report?
The newspaper has cited information received from a senior national security official in the report. The report claims that India’s National Security Advisor and Foreign Minister were also aware of the conspiracy. India-Canada relations soured last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to murder charges.
India strongly rejected all allegations made by Canada in this matter and subsequently recalled the High Commissioner. Following Canada’s allegations, India expelled Canada’s charge d’affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats.
Terrorist was killed in Canada
Last year in June 2023, he was shot dead by two gunmen dressed in black outside a Sikh temple. However, it has not yet been revealed who murdered Nijjar.
Canada has been continuously accusing India regarding this. Canada claims that Indian officials have a hand in the killing of the terrorist. India has initially denied any involvement in Nijjar’s murder. Besides, PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations have also been described as absurd.
Nijjar worked for Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. India had demanded Nijjar’s extradition several times, but Canada not only granted asylum but also gave him citizenship.
P Singh Nijjar was born in Jalandhar district of Punjab. He moved to Canada in 1997 during his youth. After this he got married there. He used to work as a plumber in Canada.