New Delhi
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday (Dec 10) rejected the report that it had directed its consulates in North America to launch a "sophisticated crackdown scheme" against Khalistani separatists during the weeks when terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Canada.
"We strongly assert that such reports are fake and completely fabricated. There is no such memo. This is part of a sustained disinformation campaign againt India. The outlet in question is known for propagating fake narratives peddled by Pakistani intelligence. The posts of the authors confirm this linkage," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.
"Those who amplify such fake news only do so at the cost of their own credibility," the MEA statement added.
"reports are fake and completely fabricated. There is no such memo", MEA reacts to a media report claiming a memo was ordered by Indian side to take concrete measures against Nijjar. pic.twitter.com/1OXbYiJfMW
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 10, 2023
A report in The Intercept had claimed earlier on Sunday (Dec 10), that India had issued a so-called "secret memo", which purportedly listed "several Sikh dissidents under investigation by India’s intelligence agencies, including the Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar."
Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in the Punjabi-dominated Surrey city of Canada's British Columbia province in June 2023. India's National Investigation Agency in the past had announced a cash reward of ₹10 lakhs ($12,192) on him and he was designated a terrorist in India.
A native of Harsinghpur in Jalandhar district of India's Punjab state, the 46-year-old promoted secessionist and terror agenda of the banned 'Sikhs for Justice' organisation. He was also accused of conspiring to kill a Hindu priest at Phillaur in Punjab.
Also read | Terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was hit with 34 bullets fired by men in 'Sikh getup': Report
In September, when Nijjar's killing became a flashpoint that brought India-Canada ties to a new and unique low, a report in the Washington Post had claimed that he was hit with 34 bullets fired by men in 'Sikh getup'.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an unfounded claim in September and cited "credible allegations" that the agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
Also watch | Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing: Canada probe team shares info with WION
India called out Trudeau's claim as 'absurd' and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move. New Delhi also suspended visa services for all Canadian citizens, a move which was withdrawn weeks later.
(With inputs from agencies)