The Canadian government on November 22, 2024, denied any evidence linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, or National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to the June 2023 murder of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This clarification came after a Canadian news report had suggested that top Indian leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, were involved in authorizing the killing, a claim strongly refuted by India. Nathalie G. Drouin, Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor, described the report as speculative and inaccurate, reaffirming that no such evidence had been found.
The controversy stemmed from a broader tension between India and Canada, especially after Canada’s accusation that Indian agents were behind Nijjar’s killing in Surrey, British Columbia. India had already condemned these allegations, calling them part of a smear campaign that further harmed the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. In late October, Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister had also made claims regarding the involvement of Indian officials in the murder, but these accusations were firmly denied by India. The ongoing diplomatic rift continues to impact relations between the two nations.