India has strongly disproved the reports circulating in Canadian media regarding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that such reports should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.

MEA in its official release said, “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.”

The Ministry highlighted that such campaigns impact the relationship between both the countries.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal’s statement read, “Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties.”

What Prompted MEA’s Response?

The response by MEA comes after a report in Canada-based Globe and Mail attempted to draw a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar and the Indian government.

India’s tie with Canada have severed over the years. Political observers believe the tense relationship between the two countries may go further south considering the stance taken by these countries. While Canada has kept on attacking India and accusing it of being involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on their soil, India has hit back at Ottawa by accusing it of providing haven to anti-India elements and allowing gang war on its soil.

While India has repeatedly asked Canadian government to take action against anti-India activities in Canada, the government has fallen on deaf ears.

Earlier, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However, India had refuted and denied all the allegations. India called them “absurd” and “motivated.” MEA further accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.