Canada alleged that Amit Shah ordered a campaign targeting Sikh separatists.


OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A Canadian official alleged Tuesday that Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah ordered a campaign targeting violence, intimidation and intelligence gathering. Sikh separatists within Canada.

Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison told members of parliament's national security committee that he had confirmed Shah's name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations.

The journalist called me and asked if this was the person. I confirmed that this was the person,” Morrison told the committee.

Morrison did not say how Canada found out about Shah's alleged involvement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a year ago that Canada had credible evidence that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist. Hardeep Singh Nanjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

A diplomatic row that has strained bilateral ties between India and Canada for more than a year has boiled over as the two countries accused each other of killing a Sikh activist in Canada and other crimes there. Top diplomats were expelled.

Canadian officials have repeatedly said they have shared evidence of this with Indian officials.

Indian government officials have repeatedly refused to provide evidence from the Canadian side and have dismissed the allegations as baseless. India's embassy in Ottawa did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the allegation against Shah.

On October 14, Canada expelled the country. Indian High Commissioner And five other diplomats alleged they were persons of interest in multiple cases of coercion, intimidation and violence aimed at silencing a campaign. Independent Sikh state known as Khalistan..

Canada is not the only country. Indian authorities have been blamed. Conspiracy to murder on foreign soil. The United States Department of Justice announced criminal charges in mid-October against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged botched plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.

In the case announced by the Justice Department, Vikash Yadav, who authorities say was planned in New York from India, faces murder-for-hire charges in a planned killing that prosecutors say had previously said his motive preceded other politically motivated killings. In the United States and Canada.

Trudeau's national security adviser Nathalie Drouin told the committee on Tuesday that Canada has evidence that the Indian government first collected information about Indian nationals and Canadians in Canada through diplomatic channels and proxies.

He said the information was then passed on to the government in New Delhi, which allegedly works with a criminal network linked to Lawrence Bishnoi.

Bishnoi is currently in jail in India, but Drouin said his extensive criminal network is linked to murders, assassination plots, extortion and other violent crimes in Canada.

Before the Royal Canadian Mounted Police went public with allegations that Indian diplomats were persons of interest in the criminal investigation, Drouin said it sought to work with the Indian government to ensure accountability. is going

Drouin said Modi had met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval two days ago in Singapore.

He said the decision to go public was made when it became clear that the Indian government would not cooperate with Canada on the proposed accountability measures.

It also calls for India to waive diplomatic immunity for interested persons, including the High Commissioner in Ottawa. Drouin said it was not seen as a possibility.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it took the unusual step of speaking publicly about an ongoing investigation because of threats to public safety.

The Indian government denies these allegations. In return six Canadian diplomats were expelled..

Najjar, 45, was shot dead in his pickup truck after leaving a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. An Indian-origin citizen of Canada, he owned a plumbing business and was the leader of a strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland.

Four Indian nationals living in Canada were charged with Niger's murder and are awaiting trial.

Drouin and Morrison were called as witnesses to the committee, along with Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheim, as well as the director of the Canadian Detective Service.



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