Trudeau Calls Canadian Officials ‘Criminals’ Over Fake Report On Nijjar Killing

Last Updated:November 23, 2024, 23:38 IST

This came after a Canadian newspaper published a report claiming that PM Modi knew of the plot behind Nijjar’s killing last year.

In a surprising statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called his own intelligence officials “criminals” for leaking information to the media after a fake report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Responding to a question at a press conference on how a leading Canadian delay can publish a story without evidence, Trudeau said, “We have seen, unfortunately, that criminals leaking top-secret information to the media have consistently gotten those stories wrong. That’s why we had a national enquiry into foreign interference that has highlighted that criminals leaking information to media outlets are unreliable on top of being criminals.”

“My primary job as Canadian leader is to keep Canadians safe. Everything we have done over the past few years and multiple difficult situations is put the emphasis on keeping Canadians safe here and across the country and making sure we are standing up for the rule of law,” he added.

What Is Trudeau Referring To?

Trudeau’s statement comes after a report by The Globe and Mail, a reputed newspaper in Canada, published an article linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar into the controversy around Nijjar’s killing, which has become the centrepiece of a major diplomatic row between India and Canada.

The report had cited an unnamed security official claiming that “Canadian security agencies believe that PM Modi “knew about Nijjar’s killing”. This is the first time that Canadian media dragged PM Modi into the contract, marking a significant development in the already-strained ties.

While the report did not identify the official, it added that the source admitted that “Canada does not have direct evidence that Mr. Modi knew…” This comes days after India, on November 2, expressed its disapproval towards remarks made in a Canadian parliamentary committee on October 29 regarding Amit Shah.

Trudeau Govt Rejects ‘Speculative’ Report on PM Modi

However, the Canadian government later clarified that the controversial report linking Modi to Nijjar’s killing was “speculative and inaccurate”. “The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” it said.

India’s External Affairs Ministry, without naming the report, rejected it as “ludicrous” and a “smear campaign” that seeks to only further damage our already strained ties. In October 2024, The Washington Post reported that Indian diplomats in Canada had allegedly gathered intelligence on Sikh separatists over the past year. According to the report, this information was reportedly used by Indian agencies to identify targets for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The report came amid deteriorating relations between India and Canada over last year’s assassination of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, for which Ottawa alleged Indian involvement. India has rejected the allegations, calling them “preposterous”, and accused Trudeau of harbouring Khalistanis who are not only plotting against India but also attacking Hindus on Canadian soil.