On Friday, the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government denied a report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities. Canada said that the reports are "speculative" and "inaccurate".
National security and intelligence advisor to Justin Trudeau, Nathalie G. Drouin, said the Canadian government is "not aware" of any evidence of the claims made by a Canadian media house citing unnamed officials.
"The government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of the 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," it added.
Canadian government’s statement comes after India strongly refuted a report in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a connection between the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to PM Modi, S. Jaishankar and Ajit Doval.
MEA said the report should be dismissed with the "contempt they deserve". It also added that the smear campaigns like this will only "further damage our already strained ties."
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"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," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal.
India-Canada relations became tense after PM Trudeau alleged New Delhi's role in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia last year.
Though India had termed the allegations as "baseless" and "motivated", Canada said it had credible information linking India's role.
India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared "persons of interest" by the Canadian government in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar.
