Canada accuses India’s Amit Shah over campaign targeting Sikh separatists

Ottawa says the adjacent state of India’s PM is progressive successful an intimidation run against Sikh separatists connected Canadian soil. Indian sources telephone the allegations ‘flimsy’.

Canada has accused Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah of being down a run of unit and intimidation targeting Sikh activists, successful a determination apt to widen a caller diplomatic spat betwixt Ottawa and New Delhi.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed to the members of the nationalist information committee precocious connected Tuesday that the authorities considers Shah – considered India’s second-highest person and a adjacent state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – the designer of the run against Sikh separatists successful Canada, which has included the assassination of an activist.

India has not truthful acold responded, however, Reuters quality bureau reported connected Wednesday that authorities officials had rejected the accusation.

Morrison told committee members that helium had confirmed Shah’s sanction to The Washington Post, which had earlier reported the allegations.

“The writer called maine and asked if it was that person. I confirmed it was that person,” Morrison told the committee. He did not uncover the grounds down Canada’s allegation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has antecedently said Canada has credible grounds that agents of the Indian authorities were progressive successful the execution of Canadian Sikh activistic Hardeep Singh Nijjar successful British Columbia successful June 2023.

The assassination and aftermath person caused a diplomatic spat betwixt the 2 countries.

Canada expelled Indian diplomats that it linked to the run it claims has targeted Sikhs. India responded with its ain expulsion of Canadian officials.

The United States besides charged a erstwhile Indian quality officer, Vikash Yadav, for allegedly directing a foiled crippled to execution Sikh separatist person Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian national and Indian professional successful New York City.

Nathalie Drouin, Trudeau’s nationalist information adviser, told the information committee connected Tuesday that Canada had grounds the Indian authorities had been gathering accusation connected Indian nationals and Canadian citizens successful Canada done diplomatic channels and proxies.

‘Flimsy’

Canadian authorities person successful the past said that they person shared grounds with India, but officials successful New Delhi person repeatedly denied that and called the allegations absurd.

India did not instantly remark connected the accusation against Shah. However, Reuters quoted unnamed authorities sources who said that New Delhi considers Canada’s grounds to beryllium “very weak” and “flimsy” and that it does not expect it to origin immoderate occupation for the almighty interior minister.

Modi’s authorities has branded Sikh separatists “terrorists” and threats to its security. The activists request an autarkic homeland, known arsenic Khalistan, to beryllium carved retired of India.

An equipped rebellion during the 1980s and 1990s killed tens of thousands. In 1984, anti-Sikh riots killed thousands pursuing the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards aft she ordered information forces to tempest the holiest Sikh temple to flush retired Sikh separatists.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies