On Tuesday, the Canadian government alleged that Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, a close ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was behind plots to target Sikh separatists within Canada.
The Indian government has dismissed Canada’s previous accusations as baseless, denying any involvement in such activities.
The Washington Post reported that Canadian officials claim Shah orchestrated a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada. Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed to a parliamentary panel on Tuesday that he informed the U.S.-based newspaper of Shah’s alleged involvement.
“The journalist called me and asked if it was Shah. I confirmed it was that person,” Morrison stated during the committee session, although he did not provide further details or evidence. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Indian foreign ministry have yet to comment on the allegations.
India has labeled Sikh separatists as “terrorists” and threats to its national security. Sikh separatists are advocating for an independent homeland known as Khalistan, which would be carved out of India. The insurgency in India during the 1980s and 1990s resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
This tumultuous period included the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which left thousands dead following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. This assassination occurred after she ordered security forces to storm the holiest Sikh temple to dislodge Sikh separatists.
In mid-October, Canada expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. In response, India also ordered the expulsion of Canadian diplomats.
The Canadian allegations are not the only instance of India reportedly targeting Sikh separatists abroad. The U.S. has charged former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav with directing a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and critic of India, in New York City.
The FBI has warned against retaliatory actions aimed at a U.S. resident. Since announcing in November 2023 that it would formally investigate the U.S. allegations, India has remained largely silent on the matter.
These accusations have strained the relations between Washington, Ottawa, and India, which is often seen by the West as a counterbalance to China.
