India dismisses allegations of 'secret memo' involving Hardeep Nijjar
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New Delhi: India strongly refuted a report circulating in the media that claimed the issuance of a purported "secret memo" by New Delhi in April, aiming to take action against Sikh separatists, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, labelled the report as "fake" and "completely fabricated," denouncing it as part of a sustained disinformation campaign against India.
Bagchi highlighted that the specific outlet, The Intercept, known for publishing the report, has a history of propagating false narratives promoted by Pakistani intelligence. He emphasised that the claims made in the report lack authenticity and that there's no existence of such a memo.
Responding to media inquiries, Bagchi reiterated the stance, cautioning against amplifying such fake news as it affects the credibility of those endorsing it.
The report by The Intercept alleged that the Indian government had instructed a crackdown against certain Sikh entities in Western nations. It detailed a purported secret memorandum issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in April, naming Sikh dissidents, including Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, under investigation by Indian intelligence agencies.
This rebuttal from India comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously suggested potential Indian involvement in the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil, a claim India vehemently rejected as absurd.