Bharat has rejected reports regarding a
memo claiming that the Indian Government ordered consulates in Northern America
to launch a “crackdown scheme” against Khalistani terrorists in Western
nations, calling it “fake and completely fabricated,” said External Affairs Ministry
spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
Reacting to reports of “secret memo,” Arindam
Bagchi stated, “We strongly assert that such reports are fake and completely
fabricated. There is no such memo.
Bagchi said the report is part of a “sustained
disinformation campaign against Bharat” and the media outlet is known for propagating
fake narratives peddled by Pakistani intelligence.
He continued, “This is part of a
sustained disinformation campaign against Bharat. The outlet in question is
known for propagating fake narratives peddled by Pakistani intelligence. The
posts of the authors confirm this linkage.”
“Those who amplify such fake news only
do so at the cost of their own credibility,” he added.
US-based news outlet The Intercept
claimed that a secret memo was issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in
April 2023. The news report claimed that the Indian Government, in the memo
ordered its consulates in North America to launch a “sophisticated crackdown
scheme” against Sikh diaspora organisations in Western nations.
The Intercept claimed that the memo included
several Sikh dissidents under investigation by Bharat’s intelligence agencies,
including Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
According to the report, the memo said, “Concrete
measures shall be adopted to hold the suspects accountable.”
As per the report, the memo issued by
MEA did not order the killings of Khalistani separatists. However, it
instructed Indian consular officials operating in US and Canada to work in
cooperation with India’s Research and Analysis Wing, the National Investigation
Agency and the Intelligence Bureau.
Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh
Nijjar was shot dead outside a Gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey in June this year.
Nijjar was wanted in Bharat, with the
National Investigation Agency (NIA) having announced a cash reward on him.
Hailing from Bharsinghpur village in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Nijjar was based in
Surrey and had been declared “absconder” by the NIA.
Earlier in September, Canadian Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of
Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Bharat had rejected the allegations,
calling them “absurd and motivated.” According to the Ministry of External
Affairs, Canada has not been able to present any evidence to back its claims
over the killing.
ANI