India protests Ottawa's allegation its home minister ordered targeting of Sikh activists in Canada

India has officially protested nan Canadian government’s allegation that nan country’s powerful location curate Amit Shah had ordered nan targeting of Sikh activists wrong Canada, calling it “absurd and baseless.”

NEW DELHI -- India officially protested connected Saturday nan Canadian government’s allegation that nan country’s powerful location curate Amit Shah had ordered nan targeting of Sikh activists wrong Canada, calling it “absurd and baseless.”

Relations betwixt nan 2 countries soured aft Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said past twelvemonth there were reliable allegations nan Indian authorities had links to nan assassination of Sikh activistic Hardeep Singh Nijjar successful Canada. India has vehemently rejected nan accusation.

New Delhi — agelong anxious astir Sikh separatist groups — has progressively accused nan Canadian authorities of giving free rein to separatists from a once-strong activity to create an independent Sikh homeland, known arsenic Khalistan, successful India.

The negotiated statement led to nan expulsion of each other’s apical diplomats past month.

“The Government of India protests successful nan strongest position to nan absurd and baseless references made to nan Union Home Minister of India,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of India’s overseas ministry told reporters Saturday.

Jaiswal besides said a Canadian diplomat successful New Delhi was summoned connected Friday and handed retired a missive to formally protestation nan allegation. “Such irresponsible actions will person superior consequences for bilateral ties,” he warned.

Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison told Parliament members of nan nationalist information committee connected Tuesday that he had confirmed Shah’s sanction to The Washington Post, which first reported nan allegations. Morrison did not explicate really Canada knew of Shah’s alleged involvement.

Canadian authorities person many times said they shared grounds pinch India whose officials contradict being provided pinch immoderate proof. New Delhi calls nan allegations ridiculous.

Nijjar was a section leader of nan Khalistan movement, banned successful India. India designated him a violent successful 2020, and astatine nan clip of his decease was seeking his apprehension for alleged engagement successful an onslaught connected a Hindu leader successful India. He lived successful Canada, wherever astir 2% of nan organization is Sikh, for astir 3 decades.

Shah, who is 60 years old, is responsible for India’s soul security, arsenic nan country's location minister. He is wide considered nan 2nd astir powerful leader successful India aft Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah has besides been a adjacent adjutant of Modi for decades.

Canada is not nan only state that has accused Indian officials of plotting an assassination connected overseas soil. The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges successful mid-October against an Indian authorities worker successful relationship pinch an alleged foiled crippled to termination a Sikh separatist leader surviving successful New York City.

Vikash Yadav, who authorities opportunity directed nan New York crippled from India, faces murder-for-hire charges successful a planned sidesplitting that prosecutors person antecedently said was meant to precede a drawstring of different politically motivated murders successful nan United States and Canada.

New Delhi astatine nan clip expressed interest and said India takes nan allegations seriously.