Recently, at a press conference, Justin Trudeau had put allegations on India claiming that the country is engaging in activities including carrying out covert operations targeting Canadian nationals. Referring to the Hardeep Nijjar's Murder Case, he said that he will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government in threatening and killing Canadian citizens on the Canadian soil.
The Washington post, an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., dragged the name of Home Minister Amit Shah and national security adviser Ajit Doval in the case of authorizing covert operations in Canada, in its article titled ‘Canada alleges much wider campaign by Modi government against Sikhs’.
The article read, “Canadian officials identified the senior official in India as Amit Shah, a member of Modi’s inner circle who serves as home affairs minister. Spokespeople in India’s Ministry for External Affairs and its Home Ministry, which oversees national security matters, did not respond to requests for comment about Shah’s alleged role.”
“Canadian officials shared details about the references to Shah and other evidence with India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, at a secret meeting in Singapore on Saturday. Canadians who took part in the meeting included Trudeau’s national security adviser, Nathalie Drouin, and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison, as well as a top RCMP official.”
What is the truth behind the WSJ's claims that Amit Shah authorized covert operations in Canada?
Indian Ministry of External Affairs has denied the allegation and said, “We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are 'persons of interest' in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centred around vote bank politics.”
“Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,” the ministry further added.
The Government of India has also decided to expel 6 Canadian Diplomats including Mr. Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner, Mr. Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary, Mr. lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary, Mr. Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary and Ms. Paula Orjuela, First Secretary. All these officials have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, 19th October, 2024.