The Canadian government has made serious allegations against India’s Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, claiming he was involved in a campaign targeting pro-Khalistan supporters on Canadian soil. The accusations surfaced as Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison spoke before a parliamentary committee, where he reportedly confirmed the involvement of Shah following an inquiry from a U.S.-based journalist with The Washington Post.
However, Morrison did not disclose any specific evidence to substantiate the claims. India’s Ministry of External Affairs and its High Commission in Ottawa have not yet issued an official response.
Background: Canada-India Diplomatic Tensions
The allegations mark an escalation in the diplomatic row between Canada and India, which began after the June 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Canadian officials have accused Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar’s death, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a direct link. Both countries have since expelled diplomats, with Ottawa recently designating Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma as a "person of interest" in the ongoing probe.
Historic Khalistan Movement and Sikh Separatism
The Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh homeland within India, has been a source of contention for decades. An insurgency in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s saw thousands of lives lost, with the movement deeply embedded in the history of Sikh relations with India. This period includes the infamous 1984 anti-Sikh riots, triggered by the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi following a military operation at the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine.
Accusations of Intimidation and Threats
According to Canadian officials, the campaign allegedly endorsed by Shah involved acts of violence and intimidation against pro-Khalistan individuals in Canada, including suspected ties to criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang. Ottawa has hinted at potential sanctions against India should the allegations gain further traction, adding further strain to already-tense bilateral relations.
With inputs from Reuters
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