Amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, a Canadian official has alleged that India’s Union Home Minister authorized a campaign to “intimidate or kill” Sikh separatists in Canada. The statement came from Canada’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during a hearing by the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, which reviews policies related to national security, policing, and public safety in Canada.
The hearing addressed concerns about alleged criminal activities and electoral interference involving agents of the Indian government within Canada. During his testimony, the official referred to an October report that alleged the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver in June 2023 was part of a “broader campaign of violence against Indian dissidents.” According to the Canadian official, journalists questioned him about the identity of the implicated Indian official, and he confirmed it was indeed the Union Home Minister.
This testimony marks the first public statement from a Canadian official directly linking the Indian Home Minister to the allegations.
In addition, a senior Canadian police commissioner testified that they had gathered evidence indicating that Indian diplomats and consular staff were collecting intelligence for the Indian government, which was then allegedly used to instruct criminal organizations to engage in acts of violence within Canada. The commissioner stated that credible and imminent threats were identified against the South Asian community, particularly supporters of Khalistan—a proposed independent Sikh nation. Since September 2023, Canadian authorities have issued warnings to thirteen Canadians about potential risks from individuals connected to the Indian government.
Diplomatic relations between Canada and India have worsened significantly over the past year. In September, Canada’s Prime Minister addressed parliament, announcing that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating “credible allegations” connecting Indian agents to Nijjar’s assassination. Nijjar, a leader in the Khalistan movement and head of an organization designated as a terrorist entity by India, was killed outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver.
India has denied these accusations, calling them “absurd and motivated” and has accused Canada of harboring individuals who threaten India’s sovereignty. Diplomatic tensions escalated further when India demanded that Canada reduce its diplomatic staff, leading to a reciprocal reduction in diplomatic personnel from both sides.
Later, Canada’s Prime Minister clarified that, while his government had intelligence regarding the matter, there was no “hard evidentiary proof” at the time to fully substantiate the claims.
