New Delhi: India has strongly protested statements made by a Canadian minister referencing Home Minister of India Amit Shah, calling the allegations “absurd and baseless” and warning of serious repercussions for bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.
This reaction follows claims by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison, who on Tuesday accused Shah of directing a campaign of violence, intimidation, and intelligence-gathering against Sikh leaders within Canada. Morrison told members of Canada’s national security committee that he had confirmed Shah’s name to The Washington Post, which initially reported the allegations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the allegations, stating that senior Canadian officials’ deliberate leaks of unsubstantiated claims to international media suggest a targeted effort to damage India’s reputation and sway global opinion. This, Jaiswal added, aligns with India’s longstanding concerns about the current Canadian government’s political motives and conduct.
During a routine press briefing, Jaiswal asserted that such irresponsible actions will strain India-Canada relations. He noted that India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission on Friday, delivering a diplomatic note in strong protest against the “absurd and baseless” remarks by the Canadian minister about Home Minister Shah.
In his statements to Parliament, Morrison did not disclose the source of Canada’s information on Shah’s alleged involvement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed a year prior that Canada had credible evidence of Indian government agents being involved in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.
Indian officials have consistently dismissed these allegations, maintaining that Canada has provided no evidence to support its claims.
