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Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing: MEA slams Canada’s charge against Indian High Commissioner, diplomats; calls it preposterous

The Ministry of External Affairs said the Canadian government did not share a shred of evidence of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing despite repeated requests and accused Trudeau of doing vote bank politics

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Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing: MEA slams Canada’s charge against Indian High Commissioner, diplomats; calls it preposterous

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday issued a strongly-worded statement over Canada’s charge that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest linked to a murder investigation, calling it preposterous imputations. Criticizing the Justin Trudeau government for smearing India as part of its vote bank politics, the MEA said that it now reserved the right to take further steps in response.

India and Canada ties worsened in September last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian government agents involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India had rejected those charges as motivated and absurd. However, the diplomatic row took a fresh turn recently when Canada named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a person of interest in its investigation into Nijjar’s killing.

Issuing a scathing statement today, the Ministry of External Affairs said the Canadian government did not share a shred of evidence of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing despite repeated requests and accused Trudeau of doing vote bank politics and not doing enough to tackle separatist elements on Canadian soil.

The statement read that the Indian government received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The MEA in its statement clarified that the Indian government strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics.

The statement claimed that since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. It added that this latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts, and leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains.

The government also pointed to the long evidence of Trudeau’s hostility to India, saying his 2018 visit to India was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort.

The statement further stated that Trudeau’s Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. The Canadian Prime Minister’s naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard, that his government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-a-vis India, only aggravated matters, it continued. The MEA was referring to Canada’s New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party pulled out of Trudeau’s government.

The government asserted that the Trudeau administration deliberately flagged India as an issue to mitigate the damage, asserting that Canada faced criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics.

The statement said that the recent development targeting Indian diplomats is the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains, it added.

The MEA underlined the Trudeau government’s constant support to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats in Canada, mentioning these were done in the name of freedom of speech.

The statement asserted that the Trudeau government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada, including death threats to them and to Indian leaders. All these activities have been justified in the name of freedom of speech, it mentioned.

Furthermore, the statement also claimed that some individuals who have entered Canada illegally have been fast-tracked for citizenship. It said that multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organised crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded.

The MEA said that High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is India’s senior most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years. Sanjay Kumar Verma has been Ambassador in Japan and Sudan, while also serving in Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam and China. The Ministry said that the aspersions cast on the High Commissioner by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt.

The government stated that it took note of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India, which it said served as the political agenda of the Trudeau government. It concluded that India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these recent efforts of the Canadian Government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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