Ottawa denies it has evidence linking India’s Prime Minister Modi to the violence in Canada

OTTAWA – Canada, which has expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists, has denied it has evidence linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to violence on Canadian soil.

Canada’s foreign ministry alleged in October that Amit Shah, considered number two in Modi’s government, was behind a campaign of intimidation in Canada.

Ottawa says it has evidence linking Indian government agents to the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

This week, the Globe and Mail newspaper said Canadian security agencies believed Mr. Modi knew about the violent plots and said Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were also in the know.

Ms Nathalie Drouin, the information adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, posted a denial statement on a government website late on the night of November 21.

“The Government of Canada has not stated and has no evidence linking PM Modi, Minister Jaishankar or NSA Doval to serious criminal activity in Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” she said.

Four Indian nationals have been charged in killing Nijjar. India categorically rejects any suggestion that its agents were involved in violence against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

Canada is home to the largest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab, and demonstrations in favor of a separate homeland carved out of India have angered New Delhi.

India calls the separatists “terrorists”, which it says are threats to its security. Reuters