On October 29, 2024, Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison testified before a parliamentary committee, claiming that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah ordered a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada. Morrison confirmed Shah’s name when asked by a journalist from The Washington Post about the allegations. He did not disclose how Canada obtained this information.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously stated that Canada had credible evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 in British Columbia. Canadian officials have said they shared this evidence with India, but Indian officials have repeatedly denied these claims, calling them “absurd.”
Morrison mentioned, “The journalist called me and asked if it was that person. I confirmed it was that person.” He did not elaborate on how Canada knew about Shah’s alleged involvement.
Tensions escalated when Canada expelled the High Commissioner and five other Indian diplomats, accusing them of being involved in intimidation tactics aimed at suppressing the push for an independent Sikh state, known as Khalistan.
Nathalie Drouin, Trudeau’s national security adviser, stated that Canada had evidence showing the Indian government gathered information on Indian nationals and Canadian citizens through diplomatic channels and proxies. This information was reportedly shared with a criminal network linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in prison in India. Drouin said, “His vast criminal network has been linked to homicides, assassination plots, coercion, and other violent crimes in Canada.”
Before going public with the allegations against Indian diplomats, Drouin said there were efforts to work with the Indian government to ensure accountability, including a meeting with Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval. However, when it became clear that cooperation was unlikely, Canada decided to reveal the situation. Drouin explained, “We made the decision to go public when it became evident the Indian government would not cooperate with Canada on proposed accountability measures.”
In response to Canada’s actions, the Indian government expelled six Canadian diplomats. The ongoing tension between the two countries escalated after Nijjar was shot and killed outside the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. Four Indian nationals living in Canada have been charged in connection with Nijjar’s murder and are currently awaiting trial.