CANADA SPY AGENCY ACCUSES INDIA, 3 OTHER NATIONS OF INTERFERENCE
The Canadian spy agency has accused India and a group of other countries of engaging in “hostile foreign interference and espionage activities”, even as India has maintained that it has nothing to do with the North American nation’s internal matters.
In the Public Report 2023, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has called China, Russia, Iran and India the “major perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage in both Canada and the West”.
In the report, CSIS director David Vigneault alluded to the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder.
“In response to the serious allegations, Director Vigneault stated that Canada and its allies require accountability from the Government of India concerning its potential involvement in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,” the report stated.
India has constantly rejected assertions by the Canadian side about the involvement of government agents in the killing of Nijjar, saying that such statements reflect the political space given in their country to separatism and extremism.
Canadian authorities have arrested three Indian nationals in connection with the murder and have said that their probe is not limited to the three accused. India has said that while Canada has informed them about the arrests, it has not shared any evidence related to Nijjar’s killing outside a gurdwara last year.
India’s high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, too had said at an event held at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations on May 7 that the two countries are using diplomatic channels “not open to public” to try and find solutions to issues of concern to both sides. Verma also said national security threats emanating from Canada and the pro-khalistan activities of Canadian citizens are the “two red lines” for India.