"India Dismisses Trudeau's Allegations as Baseless Amid Escalating Diplomatic Row with Canada"

In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, unnamed sources within the Indian government have dismissed claims made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently accused India of engaging in criminal activities on Canadian soil. The allegations, which center around the case of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have been labeled as "vague" and lacking substance by Indian officials, according to reports from ANI and PTI. The officials maintain that Canada's assertions of presenting credible evidence to the Indian government are "simply not true," suggesting that the burden of denial has been unfairly placed on India.

Trudeau, during a press conference, alleged that agents of the Indian government had engaged in a range of threatening activities targeting Canadians, including clandestine information-gathering techniques and coercive behavior. These accusations, the Indian sources argue, echo the same unfounded claims that have been repeated over time without any substantive evidence to support them. The sources also took issue with Canada's decision to engage the Indian High Commissioner over the past year, only to now target the official with these accusations.

According to reports, Trudeau has cited evidence from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which he claims demonstrates the involvement of Indian government agents in activities that threaten public safety. The evidence allegedly includes incidents of information-gathering, coercion, and violence directed at members of the South Asian community in Canada, particularly those associated with the pro-Khalistan movement. The RCMP Commissioner, Mike Duheme, further alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada have used their official positions to engage in these activities, either directly or through proxies.

However, Indian officials have rebuffed these claims, insisting that Canada has failed to provide any concrete details regarding the individuals or incidents in question. They argue that while Canadian law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, have cited connections between certain individuals and the Indian government, they have not presented specific evidence that substantiates these allegations. The Indian government maintains that despite Canada's repeated assertions, no credible information has been shared with Indian authorities to back up the claims.

The diplomatic rift deepened as India expelled six Canadian diplomats following a meeting with Canada's Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, during which the Indian government expressed its strong objection to what it termed the "baseless targeting" of its High Commissioner and other diplomats in Canada. The expulsion of diplomats is seen as a retaliatory move by India in response to the heightened accusations and the deteriorating diplomatic relationship.

In his press briefing, Trudeau emphasized that Canadian law enforcement had made multiple efforts to collaborate with their Indian counterparts on the matter, but these attempts were "repeatedly refused." He stated that over the past few years, and more recently, Canadian law enforcement agencies had investigated and charged numerous individuals linked to violent crimes, including homicides and extortions. Trudeau alleged that there had been more than a dozen imminent threats to life in Canada linked to members of the pro-Khalistan movement, which had prompted warnings from law enforcement.

India's rejection of these accusations suggests a deepening mistrust between the two nations, with Indian officials accusing Canada of perpetuating a narrative based on "vague accusations" without substantiating evidence. The sources assert that the central claim from Canadian officials—of credible evidence having been presented to India—is unfounded, and they accuse the Canadian government of creating diplomatic friction by making unverified allegations. As the diplomatic dispute continues, the fallout has significant implications for bilateral relations between the two countries, with both sides hardening their positions and showing no signs of backing down.