The Ministry of External Affairs of India has firmly rejected the reports published in Canadian media regarding the alleged killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The ministry stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was informed about the supposed plot to assassinate Nijjar. The MEA further asserted that such smear campaigns only serve to damage the already strained ties between the two nations.
This statement by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal comes after a report by Globe and Mail attempted to link the Indian government to Nijjar’s death. India has continuously expressed its concerns about extremism and anti-India activities in Canada and has urged Canadian authorities to take action against these elements.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also made claims of having evidence of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing, which India has vehemently denied and called absurd and motivated.
The report also alleged that top Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, were aware of the assassination plot. Earlier this month, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared “persons of interest” by the Canadian government in the investigation into Nijjar’s killing.