Canada accuses Indian Home Minister of targeting Sikh separatists

OTTOWA: The Canadian government accused the Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, of being involved in a plot to target Sikh separatists within Canada.

Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison revealed during a parliamentary panel discussion on Tuesday, referencing comments he provided to a United States-based newspaper.

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The remarks come following a report by the US-based The Washington Post, which stated that Canadian authorities believe Shah is linked to a campaign of violence and intimidation directed at Sikh separatists living in Canada.

The situation has sourced relations between the two countries as Canadian Sikhs fear for their and  their loved ones safety.

Sikh separatists advocate for the establishment of an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India, also known as the Khalistan movement.

Canada hosts a large Sikh community, many of whom support the Khalistan movement, and which the indian govemrent views as a threat to its national secueirtyt.

Many Sikhs in India fled to Canada following Operation Blue Star in 1984, where Sikhs’ holiest sight, the Golden Temple, was militarily attacked by the then Indian government.

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The revelations against Shah come amidst growing worries about foreign interference and extrajudicial killings on Canadian soil. The North American country voiced concerns about potential violence and intimidation tactics being used against those advocating for Sikh rights and independence.

The Canadian government previously contemned the assassination of its national, a supporter and active leader within Sikh independence, on Canadian soil.