New Delhi:
Amid repeatedly deteriorating ties, Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned a Canadian report claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conscious of the plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a “smear marketing campaign”.
Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper report quoted unnamed Canadian officers to say Mr Modi was conscious of plot to kill the Khalistani activist. The report claimed the Indian nationwide safety advisor and the exterior affairs minister have been additionally within the loop of the plot.
In response, Mr Jaiswal mentioned, “Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian authorities supply must be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this solely additional harm our already strained ties.”
Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June final 12 months, kickstarting a diplomatic disaster after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “brokers” of Delhi of being concerned. He claimed “credible info” had been shared with intelligence companions, together with the US.
Final month, Canada linked Indian Excessive Commissioner Sanjay Verma and another diplomats to the homicide. The Canadian authorities had mentioned the Indian diplomats have been expelled from the nation. In a tit-for-tat transfer, New Delhi expelled Canadian Cost d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and 5 different diplomats.
“I feel it’s apparent the Authorities of India made a basic error in pondering they may interact in supporting felony exercise towards Canadians, right here on Canadian soil. Whether or not or not it’s murders or extortion or different violent acts, it’s completely unacceptable,” Mr Trudeau mentioned.
Nijjar – the mastermind behind banned terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Pressure – was on Delhi’s checklist of ‘most wished’ terrorists for a number of crimes, together with the homicide of Hindu priest in Punjab. Anti-terror company NIA had supplied a Rs 10 lakh reward for info resulting in his seize.