Canada, US presented no evidence of Indians' involvement in purported criminal acts: Centre informs Parliament amid 'serious allegations'

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday raised the question in the Lok Sabha and asked if the government is aware of the development in the US and Canada over alleged criminal activity involving Indians.

In response, the Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry, Kirti Vardhan Singh said, "The Government is aware of the allegations about the involvement of Indian nationals in purported acts or intent in the US and Canada."

"As part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States, certain inputs shared by the US side pertaining to the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others that impinge on India's national security interests as well are being examined by a High-Level Enquiry Committee that has been constituted for this purpose," he added.

"In so far as Canada is concerned, it has presented no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations it has chosen to level," the minister informed the Parliament.

Tiwari also enquired about the impact of these allegations on India's bilateral relations with the US and Canada and if the government is engaged with the countries diplomatically.

He also asked the Centre about measures to ensure the safety and security of Indian citizens in the countries in case of "any potential fallout of these matters".

In his response, Singh said, "In addition, its public narrative on this issue appears to be in service of an anti-India separatist agenda. Persisting with such a narrative can only be harmful for any stable bilateral relationship. Government has therefore repeatedly urged the Canadian authorities to take action against anti-India elements operating from their soil."

"The welfare, safety and security of Indian nationals who are living, working and studying in the US and Canada remains of utmost importance to the Government of India. Issues faced by Indian nationals in the US and Canada are brought to the attention of relevant authorities, whenever they arise, for swift redressal," he added.

India-Canada worsening relations:

India and Canada have been on the loggerheads for quite some time now on the issue of Khalistan and the separatist movement in India bankrolled from abroad.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year claimed in the country's Parliament that his government had "credible allegations" linking the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 with the "agents of the Government of India".

Four Indian nationals have been arrested in Canada in connection with the killing of Nijjar.

In June 2023, the Parliament of Canada had observed a moment of silence in Nijjar's memory prompting India to hold a memorial service in Vancouver paying tributes to 329 people who died in a flight bombing by Khalistani terrorists in 1985.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in June last year outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population.

Recently, both countries expelled each other's diplomats after Ottawa said it was investigating the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in connection with the killing of a Sikh separatist leader last year.

India-US issue:

Meanwhile, the US alleged that Vikash Yadav, also known as Vikas Yadav, a former Indian intelligence officer once associated with the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) was involved in a failed plot to kill Gurpatwant Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and founder of the banned Sikhs For Justice.

Besides him, the purported plot involved another Indian, Nikhil Gupta, who was extradited from Czechia to the US in June.