India’s government has denied accusations from Canada that it has been involved in targeting Sikh separatists in Canada through collaboration with criminal groups. This escalating diplomatic dispute, which has seen the expulsion of diplomats from both nations, centers around Canadian claims that Indian officials shared information with organized crime groups to harm dissidents, including involvement in the 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
On Thursday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected these accusations, calling them “preposterous” and part of a broader misinformation campaign. Jaiswal insisted that India had not cooperated with criminal groups, asserting that Canada had failed to act on India’s requests to extradite individuals accused of serious crimes, including terrorism, against the Indian state. “It is strange that people who we asked to be deported are being blamed by the Canadians for committing crimes in Canada,” Jaiswal said.
The diplomatic row intensified this week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of orchestrating violent acts, including Nijjar’s killing. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and vocal proponent of the Khalistan movement for Sikh independence, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Canada has since charged four Indian nationals with his murder.
Trudeau, in addressing the allegations, described the situation as “incredibly clear,” stating that intelligence gathered by Canadian authorities pointed to India’s involvement. He emphasized that Canada could not ignore violations of its sovereignty, saying, “India made a massive mistake that Canada cannot overlook.” Despite these claims, Indian officials have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and criticized Trudeau for damaging bilateral relations for political purposes, citing the large Sikh community in Canada as a possible motive for his stance.
Jaiswal also pushed back on the accusations during a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics, noting that no evidence had been presented to support the claims. He accused the Canadian government of allowing Sikh separatists to operate freely, stating that 26 extradition requests for individuals linked to terrorism charges in India have gone unanswered by Canadian authorities for over a decade. According to Jaiswal, several individuals facing serious charges in India continue to reside in Canada without action being taken against them.
The dispute over Sikh separatism is a long-standing issue between the two countries. India has repeatedly criticized Canada for its perceived leniency toward supporters of the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India but has gained traction among segments of the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada. Trudeau, in response to these concerns, said he informed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a G-20 summit that Canada does not tolerate terrorism or incitement to violence but defended the right to free speech, even when it involves separatist views.
The controversy over Nijjar’s death has strained relations between the two countries for over a year, culminating in the mutual expulsion of top diplomats. Canadian officials, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), have identified several Indian diplomats, including the top Indian envoy, as persons of interest in the case. The RCMP stated that they had uncovered evidence of an ongoing campaign against Sikh separatists in Canada, allegedly orchestrated by Indian agents.
Canada is not the first country to raise concerns about Indian interference on foreign soil. In 2022, U.S. prosecutors accused an unnamed Indian official of plotting to assassinate another Sikh separatist leader in New York.
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