India Warns Canada of Further Strain Over Alleged Campaign Targeting Sikh Activists

India issued a strong warning to Canada about potential “further damage” to already strained diplomatic relations following a report in The Globe and Mail alleging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s involvement in a purported campaign targeting Sikh activists in Canada.

The Canadian daily claimed that security agencies in Ottawa “believe” Modi was aware of the alleged efforts to target individuals connected to the Khalistan separatist movement, which seeks an independent state for Sikhs in India.

Background on Tensions

Relations between India and Canada have soured significantly since Ottawa accused New Delhi of orchestrating the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent Khalistan advocate. Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver. Indian authorities had previously accused him of terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, allegations Nijjar denied.

India has categorically rejected these accusations, labeling them “absurd and baseless.” Both nations have engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, further deepening the diplomatic crisis.

India’s Rebuttal

Responding to the Globe and Mail report, India’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegations as unfounded. “Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It added, “Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties.”

The newspaper quoted an unnamed Canadian official who claimed that Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Modi were “in the loop” regarding plans to target Sikh activists. The official suggested it would be “unthinkable” for such senior figures not to have discussed the alleged operations.

Khalistan Movement and Broader Implications

Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside India, including advocates of the Khalistan movement, which India views as a national security threat. Tensions over the movement have been a long-standing irritant in bilateral relations.

India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, has previously denied allegations of plotting against Sikh activists in Canada, while New Delhi has accused Ottawa of harboring extremists under the guise of political asylum.

Diplomatic Fallout

The latest allegations threaten to deepen the already fractured relationship between the two countries. Both sides have maintained firm stances, with Canada pushing for accountability and India asserting its sovereignty and dismissing the accusations as politically motivated.

As tensions persist, the prospect of reconciliation between the two nations remains uncertain.