The Canadian government said on Friday (Nov 22) that it has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, or India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada.

The Canadian government said on Friday (Nov 22) that it has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, or India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. “On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India," the Canadian government said in a statement. Click here to read the Canadian government's statement However, it pointed out that it was not aware of the aforementioned evidence linking Indian leaders to criminal activity within Canada. "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” the statement added. Why this clarification by Ottawa? A few days back, a report by Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail claimed that Indian Prime Minister Modi was aware of the alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Globe and Mail had cited inputs from a national security official. The report also claimed that Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and NSA Doval were in the loop of the plot. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by unidentified men on June 18 last year. His killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, with Ottawa saying it suspects India's involvement in the killing and New Delhi calling the allegations "absurd." Ties between India and Canada nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country. Meanwhile, New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Ottawa's allegations in connection to the case. India rejects Canadian media report on Nijjar's killing The Indian foreign ministry rejected the claims made by The Globe and Mail in its report about Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Not aware of evidence linking India's Modi, Jaishankar to serious criminal activity within Canada: Ottawa

Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, met with leaders of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), a pro-Khalistan group, on Monday (Nov. 18).&nbsp;

The meeting comes as tensions over Khalistani separatism in Canada continue to rise and as diplomatic relations between the two nations remain strained, with India criticising Canada’s alleged leniency towards Khalistani extremists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-respect-indias-territorial-integrity-new-zealand-on-khalistan-referendum-776939">We respect India's territorial integrity: New Zealand on Khalistan referendum</a>

As per a post on X by LeBlanc,&nbsp;it was focused on discussing "community safety".

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, I met with the leadership of the <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldSikhOrg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WorldSikhOrg</a> today to discuss community safety. Law enforcement and governments are working together to ensure the safety of the Sikh community in Canada.
— Dominic LeBlanc (@DLeBlancNB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLeBlancNB/status/1858605465745142147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"Law enforcement and governments are working together to ensure the safety of the Sikh community in Canada," said the Canadian minister.

WSO, in a post on X, acknowledged the meeting and said that it "highlighted specific issues such as the existing intelligence sharing framework with India that puts Canadian lives at risk and the threat of extremist Hindutva groups in Canada like HSS and Shiv Sena."

<img alt="WSO" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2df08fc5-d830-461f-b981-2fce9fb116d7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2836%29.jpg" />

The group's X account is blocked in India.

The meeting comes as India and Canada continue to be engaged in a diplomatic row over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims of New Delhi's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has categorically denied the allegations as "preposterous" and has been demanding proof to back the claim.

In response to Trudeau's accusations, India expelled Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwixrvHkmuiJAxUVTmwGHTQ0KPAQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pro-khalistan-elements-have-infiltrated-canadas-defence-forces-and-parliament-says-recalled-envoy-770443" jsname="YKoRaf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pro-Khalistan elements have infiltrated Canada’s defence forces and parliament, says recalled envoy</a>

<h2>Here's everything we know about the World Sikh Organisation:</h2>

A pro-Khalistani organisation, the World Sikh Organisation, was founded in 1984. As per its website, its primary aim is to "protect and promote the interests of Sikh Canadians".

The group in a 2007 statement said they were committed to "strive, through peaceful means, for the establishment of a Sikh nation, KHALISTAN, in order to protect the Sikh identity and faith as ordained by the Guru Panth in the daily prayer RAJ KAREGA KHALSA".

On its website, the group has a number of anti-India press releases, including one celebrating Canada declaring India as a "significant threat to public safety," in Canada. In October, Canada claimed that it has found "clear and compelling evidence that agents of India's government have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety."

WSO President Danish Singh, as per the press release, said at that time: "Sikhs in Canada have said from the outset that the trail from Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder leads directly to India’s consulates and the Indian High Commission in Ottawa. India’s announcement that they are withdrawing these diplomats from Canada seems less like a diplomatic manoeuvre and more like an effort to shield accused individuals from facing justice." 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, met with leaders of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), a pro-Khalistan group, on Monday (Nov.

Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, met with leaders of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), a pro-Khalistan group, on Monday (Nov. 18). The meeting comes as tensions over Khalistani separatism in Canada continue to rise and as diplomatic relations between the two nations remain strained, with India criticising Canada’s alleged leniency towards Khalistani extremists. Also read | We respect India's territorial integrity: New Zealand on Khalistan referendum As per a post on X by LeBlanc, it was focused on discussing "community safety". Today, I met with the leadership of the @WorldSikhOrg today to discuss community safety. Law enforcement and governments are working together to ensure the safety of the Sikh community in Canada. — Dominic LeBlanc (@DLeBlancNB) November 18, 2024 × "Law enforcement and governments are working together to ensure the safety of the Sikh community in Canada," said the Canadian minister. WSO, in a post on X, acknowledged the meeting and said that it "highlighted specific issues such as the existing intelligence sharing framework with India that puts Canadian lives at risk and the threat of extremist Hindutva groups in Canada like HSS and Shiv Sena." The group's X account is blocked in India. The meeting comes as India and Canada continue to be engaged in a diplomatic row over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims of New Delhi's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has categorically denied the allegations as "preposterous" and has been demanding proof to back the claim. In response to Trudeau's accusations, India expelled Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador. Also read | Pro-Khalistan elements have infiltrated Canada’s defence forces and parliament, says recalled envoy Here's everything we know about the World Sikh Organisation: A pro-Khalistani organisation, the World Sikh Organisation, was founded in 1984. As per its website, its primary aim is to "protect and promote the interests of Sikh Canadians". The group in a 2007 statement said they were committed to "strive, through peaceful means, for the establishment of a Sikh nation, KHALISTAN, in order to protect the Sikh identity and faith as ordained by the Guru Panth in the daily prayer RAJ KAREGA KHALSA". On its website, the group has a number of anti-India press releases, including one celebrating Canada declaring India as a "significant threat to public safety," in Canada. In October, Canada claimed that it has found "clear and compelling evidence that agents of India's government have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety." WSO President Danish Singh, as per the press release, said at that time: "Sikhs in Canada have said from the outset that the trail from Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder leads directly to India’s consulates and the Indian High Commission in Ottawa. India’s announcement that they are withdrawing these diplomats from Canada seems less like a diplomatic manoeuvre and more like an effort to shield accused individuals from facing justice." (With inputs from agencies)

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