India Rejects Media Report On Nijjar Killing As Smear Campaign

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – India has firmly dismissed recent reports in the Canadian media linking the Indian government to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling them baseless and undeserving of attention. The Ministry of External Affairs criticized these reports as “smear campaigns” that only worsen already strained India-Canada relations.

“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,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on November 20.

This response follows a report by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian publication, attempting to link Nijjar’s death to the Indian government. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.

India’s relations with Canada have significantly deteriorated, with India repeatedly voicing concerns over extremism and anti-India activities in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously claimed to have “credible allegations” implicating India in Nijjar’s death—a claim India categorically rejected as “absurd” and “motivated,” accusing Canada of harboring extremist elements.

Tensions escalated further earlier this month when India recalled six diplomats after they were declared “persons of interest” by Canada in connection with the investigation into Nijjar’s killing.