The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed strongly a report in Canadian media which claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi already knew about the alleged plot to kill separatist terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Terming the statements given to the Canadian newspaper, by a Canadian government source, as “smear campaigns”, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India generally doesn’t comment on media reports but given the nature of the statement, they should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. He added that that campaigns will further damage the already strained ties between the two nations.
“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
.According to the media reports, the statements were given to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.
In its report, the newspaper cited inputs from a senior national security official in Canada.The report further claimed the Indian national security advisor Ajit Doval and the external affairs minister S Jaishankar were also aware about the alleged plot. However, the report also mentioned that Canada did not have any evidence to back this claim against PM Modi.
“While Canada does not have direct evidence that Mr. Modi knew, the official said, the assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with Mr. Modi before proceeding,” the news report said. This marks the first time of accusations being directly levelled at PM Modi, S Jaishankar, and Doval in connection with the incident, escalating the controversy sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier allegations.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorists by India, was shot dead in Surrey in Canada’s British Columbia province, in June 2023, kickstarting a diplomatic row after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “agents” of Delhi of being involved in the alleged plot.
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