Canada has made a serious charge against Amit Shah, who is India’s Home Minister: he is involved in a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh activists in Canada. This move is likely to make things worse between Ottawa and New Delhi diplomatically.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison told the national security committee that Amit Shah, who is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is thought to be the mastermind behind the effort. As part of this effort, a Canadian Sikh activist named Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June 2023.
The accusations have been denied by India, which has called the proof “flimsy” and “very weak.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said before that Canada has strong proof that Indian government agents were involved in the murder of Nijjar.
Because of the diplomatic spat between the two countries, Indian diplomats were sent back to India and Canadian officials were sent back to India. An ex-Indian intelligence officer named Vikash Yadav has also been charged by the US with being involved in a failed plan to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a Sikh separatist leader and a dual US-Canadian citizen.
Trudeau’s national security adviser, Nathalie Drouin, said that Canada has proof that India is gathering information on Indian people and Canadian citizens through diplomatic channels and agents. India sees Sikh separatists as “terrorists” who pose a danger to the safety of the country.
India and Sikh activists are at odds because Sikh activists want Khalistan to be an independent Sikh state. After Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed in 1984, there were anti-Sikh riots that killed thousands of people. There are still heated arguments going on about terrorism, security, and nationalism, so the topic is still touchy.
Canadian officials are worried about Amit Shah’s possible participation because they think it shows a high-level order from the Indian government. Morrison’s confirmation of Shah’s part has made things even worse between India and Canada.
Indian leaders have denied many times that they had anything to do with Nijjar’s campaigns of murder or fear. They say Canada doesn’t have enough proof and have asked for more details.
The situation has caught the attention of people around the world, which could affect ties between India and Canada and the safety of the whole world. As things get worse, diplomats and leaders from both countries will have to be very careful how they handle this complicated problem.
The accusations against Amit Shah have also caused a lot of discussion in India. Some people are asking how the government is handling Sikh separatism. Others have said they are worried about what could happen to India’s image around the world.
People have also looked closely at Canada’s position on Sikh independence. Some say that the country shouldn’t give safe haven to people that India considers terrorists.
The fight shows how hard it is to balance worries about national security with those about human rights and diplomatic relations. The world will be keeping a close eye on what happens as it happens.
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