‘He should be dismissed in contempt’: India publishes report in Canadian media alleging PM Modi knew about Nijjar’s murder plot

India has described reports in the Canadian media that the Indian prime minister was aware of the alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a ‘smear campaign’. The State Department said Canada’s ridiculous statements should be dismissed with disdain.

“We do not normally comment on media reports. But such ridiculous statements made by a Canadian government source to a newspaper should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained relations,” the State Department said. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on media reports in Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.

India and Canada’s relations deteriorated last year after Nijjar was shot dead on Canadian soil, after which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament that Indian agents were involved in the killing. Meanwhile, India rejected all allegations made by Ottawa and eventually recalled its high commissioner, who was said to have been involved in the murder, along with other diplomats.

The Canadian newspaper said its agencies believed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of Nijjar’s killing and other violent plans. It cited a senior national security official who attributed Nijjar’s killing to Home Minister Amit Shah. According to the newspaper’s report, the source said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval were also involved.

However, the newspaper admitted that there was no evidence that PM Modi was aware of the situation, but added that it was “unthinkable” that three senior political figures were discussing the murder and PM Modi was not aware of it.