‘No evidence’: Trudeau govt denies Canada media report linking Modi, Jaishankar to Nijjar plot

Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government has denied linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, EAM Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval to criminal activities within Canada, including the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his hand for a handshake with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, February 23, 2018. The Canadian government-led by Justin Trudeau, on Friday, denied a report in Canada’s popular media outlet - The Globe and Mail - that cited an unnamed national security official linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada, including the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. ‘Not aware of evidence’ In a statement released on Friday, Nathalie G Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, said: “The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada.” “Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate,” the statement further said. It also said that on October 14, “because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and officials took the “extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India.” On October 14, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador after they were designated as “persons of interest” in a probe by the Canadian police into the killing of Nijjar.