Canada Admits Leaking Information on Indian Officials to Counter Disinformation Claims

In a significant revelation, the Canadian government has admitted to leaking sensitive information about Indian officials to The Washington Post. This disclosure pertains to alleged Indian government involvement in criminal activities within Canada, which eventually led to the recent recall of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats. Canada had initially stated that these diplomats were “expelled” following India’s refusal to lift their diplomatic immunity.

Canadian National Security Advisor Nathalie Drouin explained to a parliamentary committee that leaking this information to a well-regarded international news outlet was a “strategic decision.” The move aimed to counteract what Canada perceives as “disinformation” from India, asserting that engaging a credible publication was essential to clarify the narrative. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian publication, later named Drouin and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison as the officials who had briefed The Washington Post on the matter.

One of the more explosive allegations reported by The Washington Post involved India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, who was alleged to have authorized attacks on Canadian Sikhs with pro-Khalistani views. Morrison, addressing the parliamentary panel, confirmed his involvement in verifying Shah’s alleged connection to a Post reporter who had inquired about it. He clarified that he had not volunteered this information but had merely confirmed it when asked directly by the reporter.

This disclosure sparked sharp inquiry from Raquel Dancho, a Conservative Party MP, who questioned the Trudeau government’s decision to share such information with the press. Meanwhile, sources from the Indian government, responding to Canada’s public allegations, dismissed the assertions as “very weak and flimsy,” pointing out the lack of evidence backing these claims. India has consistently maintained that Canada has not presented any actionable information to substantiate allegations initially raised by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year regarding an alleged “murder-for-hire” scheme involving Indian officials.

Drouin also indicated that Canadian and Indian security officials have met on at least seven occasions since August of the previous year to discuss these issues. She stated that Canada possesses “evidence” suggesting that Indian officials have used coercion and threats to gather information on Indo-Canadians, which is then allegedly relayed to senior Indian government levels to coordinate serious criminal activities. Canada claims these activities were executed through the Lawrence Bishnoi organized crime network. India, however, has categorically dismissed these accusations as baseless.