OTTAWA, Ontario — On Tuesday, Canada’s deputy foreign minister validated a report claiming that an Indian Cabinet minister, closely associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, orchestrated intelligence efforts directed at Canadians. This information was initially disclosed by a prominent media outlet, which stated that Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation focused on Sikh separatists residing in Canada.
During a session of Parliament meant for the national security committee, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison revealed that he was the source who confirmed Shah’s identity to the media. He mentioned, “The journalist called me and asked if it was that person. I confirmed it was that person,” but he did not elaborate on how Canadian authorities obtained this information.
Previously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that credible evidence pointed to the involvement of Indian operatives in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in British Columbia in June 2023. Canadian officials have stated that they provided that evidence to Indian authorities on multiple occasions.
Despite these claims, Indian representatives have consistently dismissed the allegations as outrageous, asserting that Canada has failed to furnish any substantial proof. The Indian embassy in Ottawa has not publicly replied to inquiries regarding the claims involving Minister Shah.
On October 14, Canada took the unusual step of expelling the Indian high commissioner and five other diplomats, alleging their involvement in efforts to coerce and intimidate those advocating for the independence of Khalistan, a proposed Sikh state.
This incident is part of a larger pattern, as other nations have also accused Indian officials of plotting assassinations beyond their borders. Recently, the U.S. Justice Department charged an Indian government employee who allegedly orchestrated a plan to kill a Sikh separatist leader residing in New York City.
According to the Justice Department’s announcement, Vikash Yadav, who purportedly directed the New York operation from India, faces charges of murder-for-hire in a case that was reportedly intended to be the precursor to additional politically motivated murders in both the U.S. and Canada.
During the parliamentary committee meeting, Nathalie Drouin, national security adviser to Trudeau, asserted that Canadian intelligence has evidence showing that the Indian government initially collected data on both Indian nationals and Canadian citizens through diplomatic channels and other proxies. This information was purportedly relayed to the Indian government, which is said to collaborate with a criminal organization linked to the imprisoned Lawrence Bishnoi, known for his involvement in various violent crimes in Canada.
Drouin indicated that before the Royal Canadian Mounted Police publicly shared details about the interest in Indian diplomats in their criminal investigations, there had been attempts to engage with the Indian government for accountability. Notably, a meeting with Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, took place just two days prior in Singapore.
However, when it became clear that the Indian government was unwilling to cooperate with Canada on proposed accountability measures, including requests to waive diplomatic immunity, the decision was reached to make the information public. Drouin noted that the likelihood of cooperation from India was minimal.
Due to concerns for public safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police chose to disclose aspects of their ongoing investigations. In a swift response, the Indian government expelled six Canadian diplomats in retaliation.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was 45 years old, was fatally shot leaving the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. As an Indian-born Canadian, he was a business owner and actively involved in the lingering efforts to establish an independent Sikh homeland. Currently, four Indian nationals residing in Canada are charged with his murder and are awaiting trial. The committee hearing also included testimonies from Morrison, Drouin, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme, and Canada’s spy service director.