Indian Government Rebukes Canadian Allegations Against Home Minister

On Saturday, India expressed strong objections to accusations from the Canadian government, which claimed that Amit Shah, India's influential home minister, orchestrated actions against Sikh activists on Canadian soil. India dismissed these claims as 'nonsensical and unfounded.'

The diplomatic tension between India and Canada intensified following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement, made in the previous year, which suggested credible accusations linking the Indian government to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a notable Sikh activist in Canada. India has continuously refuted this stance.

India has been increasingly vocal about its concerns over Sikh separatist movements and has accused Canada of offering too much leeway to factions supporting the Khalistan movement, a designated terrorist organization in India aiming for an independent Sikh state.

The diplomatic fallout resulted in the mutual expulsion of senior diplomats from both nations recently.

Expressing India's disapproval, Randhir Jaiswal, the foreign ministry's spokesperson, condemned the reference to India's Union Home Minister as 'absurd and without basis' during a press briefing.

An official formal note of disapproval was handed to a Canadian diplomat in New Delhi, emphasizing that such 'reckless' allegations could severely damage the bilateral relationship.

Canada's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, David Morrison, affirmed Shah's mention to The Washington Post, which initially reported the allegations. However, Morrison did not disclose the basis of Canada's allegations regarding Shah's involvement.

Despite Canada's insistence on sharing evidence, Indian officials have dismissed the claims, labeling them as preposterous, and insist they've seen no proof supporting these allegations.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement banned in India, was designated as a terrorist by India in 2020. At the time of his assassination, India was seeking his extradition on charges related to an attack on a Hindu priest in India.