Canada Alleges Indian Minister Behind Targeting of Sikh Separatists
Amit Shah Accused of Orchestrating Threats Against Sikh Leaders on Canadian Soil
Washintong-(Special Correspondent): The Canadian government accused India’s Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday of orchestrating efforts to target Sikh separatists within Canada. Shah, a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads a Hindu nationalist government, was alleged to be involved in a campaign of intimidation against Sikh separatists.
Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed to a parliamentary committee that he had identified Shah to The Washington Post as being involved in these alleged plots. However, Morrison refrained from offering further details or evidence. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa and India’s foreign ministry have yet to comment on the new allegations.
India has previously dismissed Canada’s accusations as unfounded, asserting that it has no role in the alleged targeting of Sikh separatists abroad. The Indian government regards Sikh separatists, who seek a Khalistan homeland independent from India, as “terrorists” and security threats. During the 1980s and 1990s, India saw a violent insurgency advocating for Khalistan, which left thousands dead, including many during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Relations between Canada and India soured further in October when Canada expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. India responded by expelling Canadian diplomats.
India’s alleged targeting of Sikh separatists has not been limited to Canada. In the U.S., former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav was charged with planning the murder of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a vocal critic of India. The FBI issued warnings about retaliation aimed at U.S. residents, but India has remained largely silent on the matter, except to state it would investigate the U.S. allegations formally as of November 2023.
These tensions have strained India’s relationships with both Canada and the U.S., key allies who consider India a strategic counterbalance to China.
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