On Tuesday, the Canadian government alleged that Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was behind plots to target Sikh separatists on Canadian soil. The Indian government has denied these accusations, dismissing them as baseless.
Canadian officials claimed that Shah, considered the second most powerful figure in the Modi government, orchestrated a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada. Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison confirmed Shah's alleged involvement to a parliamentary panel.
India has labeled Sikh separatists as terrorists and a threat to its security, with the separatists advocating for an independent homeland called Khalistan. The historical context includes the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
In October 2023, Canada informed India about Shah's alleged role in the plots, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. This incident is not isolated, as India has faced similar accusations of targeting Sikh separatists on foreign soil, including a recent case in the United States.
The FBI charged a former Indian intelligence officer for allegedly directing a plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. India has pledged to investigate these allegations, which have strained its relations with Western countries like the United States and Canada.
The accusations have put pressure on Washington and Ottawa's ties with India, a country often seen as a strategic partner in the region. The situation highlights the complex dynamics surrounding Sikh separatism and the challenges of addressing historical grievances in a global context.
