Oct 30, V7N- The Canadian government alleged on Tuesday that India’s Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was involved in targeting Sikh separatists on Canadian soil. The Indian government has dismissed these accusations as unfounded, denying any involvement.

The Washington Post reported that Canadian officials claim Shah is linked to a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed to a parliamentary panel that he identified Shah as being involved in these plots. However, Morrison provided no additional details or evidence.

India considers Sikh separatists, who advocate for an independent state of Khalistan, as threats to its national security. A violent insurgency for Khalistan during the 1980s and 1990s led to thousands of deaths, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.

In mid-October, Canada expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In response, India expelled Canadian diplomats.

Canada’s allegations are not isolated, as Washington recently charged former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav with attempting to orchestrate an assassination of Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. The FBI issued warnings against any retaliatory violence targeting U.S. residents.

These accusations have strained relations between the U.S., Canada, and India, a key Western partner often viewed as a counterweight to China.

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