The Canadian government declared on Tuesday that Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was behind the plots to target Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.The Indian government has dismissed Canadas prior accusations as baseless, denying any involvement.The Washington Post newspaper initially reported that Canadian authorities alleged Shah was behind a project of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists in Canada.Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison said to a parliamentary panel on Tuesday that he told the U.S.-based paper that Shah lagged the plots.The journalist called me and asked if it (Shah) was that person.
I verified it was that individual, Morrison informed the committee, without providing additional information or evidence.
The High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Indian foreign ministry had no instant comment.India has actually called Sikh separatists terrorists and risks to its security.
Sikh separatists require an independent homeland referred to as Khalistan to be taken of India.
A revolt in India throughout the 1980s and 1990s eliminated 10s of thousands.That period consisted of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that left thousands dead following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards after she ordered security forces to storm the holiest Sikh temple to flush out Sikh separatists.Canada in mid-October expelled Indian diplomats, connecting them to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
India also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.The Canadian case is not the only instance of Indias alleged targeting of Sikh separatists on foreign soil.Washington has actually charged a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, for allegedly directing a foiled plot to murder Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a double U.S.-Canadian citizen and Indian critic in New York City.The FBI cautioned versus such a retaliation aimed at a U.S.
citizen.
India has stated little bit publicly considering that announcing in November 2023 it would officially investigate the U.S.
allegations.The allegations have evaluated Washington and Ottawas relations with India, frequently viewed by the West as a counterbalance to China.Source: Reuters-- Agencies