Security Screening To Media Leak: Exclusive On Canada’s Flip-Flops

Last Updated:November 22, 2024, 19:26 IST

Indian agencies said such flip-flops are abnormal in Canada and show the pressure of Khalistani groups on the Canadian government

The ties between India and Canada are strained. (AFP File Photo)

The withdrawal of enhanced security for passengers travelling from Canada to India is aimed at embarrassing India, according to top intelligence sources.

Amid diplomatic tensions with India, Canada had on November 20 enhanced its security screening for passengers travelling to India, citing “an abundance of caution". In a statement to the broadcaster, Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand on November 22 said the extra screening measures have been lifted.

According to sources, Khalistani groups had met authorities and showed a series of earlier issued threat messages by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued about Air India. They said the screening would show that SFJ is a terrorist group and Pannun a terrorist. The groups asked the government to withdraw the order with immediate effect.

Indian agency sources said such flip-flops are abnormal in Canada and show the pressure of Khalistani groups on the Canadian government.

THE MEDIA LEAK

Another was the media report alleging Indian link to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While the story maintained deniability, the header was strong against top Indian leadership. India had called it “smear campaign".

The Canadian government has now clarified, calling the media report as “speculative and inaccurate".

The Indian side has off the record communicated to Nathalie G. Drouin, Intelligence Advisor to Trudeau, that no judicial order has come so far. Sources said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which is infiltrated by Khalistani groups, leaked the report to the media house.

“On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India," the government 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," it added while reacting to the media report.

This comes after The Globe and Mail, a reputed newspaper in Canada published an article linking PM Modi and NSA Doval into the controversy around the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year.

According to sources, PM Trudeau wanted to embarrass the Indian side, but retracted amid American pressure and the group picture of Trudeau, Joe Biden and PM Modi at G20 Summit in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro.

India has clearly stated it will not engage with Trudeau.

Intelligence sources say these flip-flops are nothing but the mindset under which the Trudeau government is working.

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