“Trudeau Govt Denies Linking Modi, Jaishankar to Canadian Crimes” . The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, clarified on Friday that it has not linked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, or National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities within Canada. Nathalie G. Drouin, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, issued a statement emphasizing that there is no evidence to connect these Indian officials to serious crimes in Canada. “Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” the statement read.
“Trudeau Govt Denies Linking Modi, Jaishankar to Canadian Crimes” : Key Details,
The clarification comes amidst a diplomatic rift between India and Canada. On October 14, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other officials took the unusual step of publicly accusing agents of the Indian government of involvement in serious criminal activities within Canada. This was deemed necessary due to a “significant and ongoing threat to public safety.”
The issue gained further traction following a report by The Globe and Mail, a Canada-based newspaper, which implied a connection between the Indian officials and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist designated by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). India strongly rejected these claims, dismissing the report as baseless and harmful. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the allegations “ludicrous” and part of a smear campaign that could worsen already strained India-Canada relations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly stated, “We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties.”
The relationship between India and Canada has been deteriorating over recent months, with India voicing concerns about growing extremism, violence, and anti-India activities in Canada. India has repeatedly urged the Canadian government to address these issues.
The diplomatic tensions were fueled by Trudeau’s earlier claim of having “credible allegations” suggesting Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing in June 2023 outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. India has categorically denied these allegations, describing them as “absurd” and “motivated.” Instead, India has accused Canada of providing a safe haven for extremist and anti-India elements.
In a further escalation, India withdrew six diplomats from Canada after they were declared “persons of interest” in the Canadian investigation into Nijjar’s death. The incident and its aftermath have significantly strained bilateral relations, highlighting the challenges in resolving long-standing differences between the two nations.
