Canada media report claims PM Modi knew of Nijjar killing; India calls it 'smear campaign'

PTC News Desk: Amid deteriorating ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed a Canadian media report claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to kill Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a "smear campaign".

Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, citing unnamed Canadian officials, reported that PM Modi was aware of the plot to kill Nijjar. The report alleged that the Indian national security advisor and the external affairs minister were also involved in the plot.

In response, Jaiswal stated, "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."

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was killed in Vancouver in June last year, sparking a diplomatic crisis after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused "agents" from Delhi of involvement. He said "credible information" was shared with intelligence partners, including the United States.

Last month, Canada accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats of the murder. The Canadian government stated that the Indian diplomats had been expelled from the country. In a tit-for-tat move, New Delhi deported Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats.