OTTAWA, Oct 30: Amid heightened diplomatic tension with India, two senior officials from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government have admitted to leaking intelligence to The Washington Post regarding India’s alleged role in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This admission coincides with Canadian police allegations implicating Indian agents in violent acts within Canada.
In recent testimony before a parliamentary panel, Nathalie Drouin, Trudeau’s national security adviser, stated that a senior official within Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration had reportedly orchestrated plots against Sikh separatists in Canada. She clarified that Trudeau’s authorization was not needed to share this information, describing the leak as a strategic communication move in Canada’s stance on the ongoing dispute.
“We provided non-classified data on our cooperation with India and outlined evidence linking the Indian government to illicit activities threatening Canadian citizens,” Drouin explained.
Canada-India relations deteriorated further after India expelled six Canadian diplomats on October 14, in retaliation for Canada designating India’s High Commissioner as a “person of interest” in Nijjar’s murder. Canadian law enforcement, meanwhile, issued allegations against Indian agents for their involvement in violent incidents.
A recent Washington Post article revealed that Canada allegedly presented evidence linking India to criminal networks, specifically the Bishnoi gang, used to target Nijjar and other Sikh separatists. Drouin disclosed that the meeting, held on September 12 between Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Canadian officials, saw Doval “reject any acknowledgment” of the claims.
Lawmakers in Canada expressed frustration over the decision to leak intelligence to the media rather than directly informing the public. Conservative critic Raquel Dancho accused the government of being “unfair to the Canadian public,” noting critical details were disclosed first to The Washington Post. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme defended the approach, stating that the information was non-classified and withheld publicly to protect active investigations.
The standoff between the two countries continues, with India refuting Canada’s accusations. India has consistently labeled Nijjar a terrorist, alleging his involvement in violent activities, including a bombing in Punjab and the 2009 killing of Sikh politician Rulda Singh. This latest development further strains an already tense diplomatic relationship, as both nations maintain conflicting stances on the controversial case.
