New Delhi: India has unequivocally refuted the allegations made by Canadian media concerning the demise of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, asserting that such reports should be dismissed with the "respect they merit."
The Ministry of External Affairs has further underscored that "character assassination campaigns" such as these only serve to exacerbate the already fragile relationship between the two nations.
"We typically refrain from commenting on media reports. However, such baseless accusations made to a Canadian newspaper purportedly by a government source should be met with the contempt they warrant. Such smear campaigns only serve to further erode our already strained relations," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, on Wednesday, declared.
This statement comes in the wake of a report published by the Globe and Mail in Canada, which attempted to establish a link between the demise of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar and the Indian government.
It is noteworthy that the relationship between India and Canada has experienced a significant downturn, with India consistently expressing its profound concerns regarding extremism, the culture of violence, and anti-India activities in Canada, urging Canadian authorities to address these issues.
Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has alleged that there are "credible allegations" linking India to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada the previous year.
India has vehemently denied these allegations, characterizing them as "absurd" and "politically motivated," and has accused Canada of providing a platform for extremist and anti-India elements within its borders.
Furthermore, India has withdrawn six diplomats from Canada earlier this month following their designation as "persons of interest" by the Canadian government in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar was fatally shot outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, last year.
