Canada has scrutinized India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, accusing him of orchestrating plots against Sikh separatists within its borders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi often views Shah, a long-time confidant, as his tough-minded counterpart and a potential successor in the future.
Shah’s office and the Indian foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the accusation. India has consistently refuted any involvement in the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, as well as in the purported targeting of other dissidents in the country. This controversy has resulted in the expulsion of diplomats from both nations.
Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison on Tuesday emphasized that Canada has not yet provided any evidence regarding Shah’s alleged involvement in the campaign against separatists from India’s Sikh minority.
Political analysts widely regard Shah, 60, as the most influential politician in India following Modi. The two, both identified as Hindu nationalists, have collaborated in national and provincial governments for over twenty years, beginning in their home state of Gujarat. Many view Shah as a likely successor if Modi steps down.
In 2019, Modi made a concise statement during his first press conference as prime minister in India, but he did not accept any questions. Instead, he gestured toward Shah, the then-ruling party president who was sitting next to him.
“I am a disciplined soldier of the party; the president is everything to me,” Modi stated, in reference to Shah.
Shah, a prominent figure in campaign strategy, has been instrumental in guiding Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to significant electoral successes nationwide, transforming the party from relative obscurity to a position of political dominance. In 2019, Modi appointed him to lead the influential interior or home affairs ministry.
The official website of Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah describes him as a vigilant and alert administrator who identifies weak and lumpy security as a significant barrier to the progress of society, the country, and the state.
Reports state that during his tenure as Gujarat’s state home minister in 2010, he faced false accusations of involvement in the extrajudicial killing of a so-called “dreaded terrorist.” This allegation led to his resignation and a subsequent three-month incarceration. In 2014, a court found him not guilty.
Shah played a pivotal role in the revocation of the semi-autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, in 2019. His actions also facilitated the process for non-Muslims from neighboring countries to acquire Indian citizenship, as detailed on his official website.
Hailing from Mumbai, he has served as an elected politician for over 25 years. Shah, who hailed from a well-off family in Gujarat, reportedly abandoned his educational pursuits at approximately 18 years of age, according to a declaration during the 2019 general election.
In a 2016 interview, Shah revealed that, apart from a brief period selling plastic tubing, he has dedicated nearly his entire adult life to the BJP and its associated organizations. Over the years, he has cultivated a reputation as a staunch Hindu hardliner, known for his unwavering views.
An individual with decades of acquaintance with both Modi and Shah noted their commitment to advocating for Hindu causes, not just as intellectual figures but as proactive leaders who demonstrate a notable fearlessness in their approach.
In 2021, Shah addressed a conference, stating that India was adhering to a “nation first” policy under Modi. The country responded to attacks on Indian troops in 2016 and 2019 by conducting targeted strikes against alleged militant camps in Pakistan.
“The global community was unprepared for our actions in Pakistan’s territory,” he stated.
India, once primarily associated with the United States and Israel, has now embraced this distinction. In a significant development, the nation’s defense policy has emerged from the previously dominant influence of foreign policy. The message was clear: achieving peace with all parties involved requires mutual respect and peaceful conduct.
