Canada accuses India of targeting Sikh activists in 2024

Recent developments in Canada have unveiled serious accusations against Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, who is alleged to have ordered a campaign focusing on Sikh separatists in Canada. This revelation was disclosed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison during a parliamentary session. The allegations come during an already tense diplomatic climate between Canada and India, particularly following the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deemed as having credible evidence of Indian involvement. Canada has claimed to possess evidence that links Indian officials to the operational planning of Nijjar's assassination and allegedly aims to silence campaigns advocating for an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan. The Canadian government has expelled six Indian diplomats in response to these accusations, asserting that their roles involved intimidation and coercion against Sikh activists overseas. Furthermore, evidence is said to indicate that intelligence was gathered through various means before being relayed back to the Indian authorities. This intelligence is purportedly associated with a criminal network led by Indian national Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently incarcerated in India. Both nations continue to deny allegations against each other, escalating tensions and leading to reciprocal expulsions. As diplomatic relations falter, there remain serious questions about the implications for international law, the treatment of diaspora communities, and the accountability of state-sponsored actions abroad.