Some of Canada’s top security and intelligence officials are expected to testify this morning about an alleged campaign to intimidate or kill Canadians – a scheme that the RCMP chief says goes back to the highest levels of the Indian government.

“We have solid evidence — not intelligence, but evidence — that this goes all the way up to the highest level,” RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme told CBC. Power and politics will host David Cochrane on Friday.

Later this morning, MPs on the Public Safety and National Security Committee will have two hours to question three senior security officials — Duheme, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Daniel Rogers and the national security adviser from Prime Minister Nathalie Drouin — regarding the shocking RCMP affair. claim that Indian government agents were complicit in widespread crimes in Canada, including murder, extortion and intimidation.

This assertion, first made by Duheme during a surprise press conference two weeks ago, has further weakened the already strained relationship between Canada and India.

The committee will also hear from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Morrison and Deputy Minister of Public Safety Tricia Geddes.

Duheme said police evidence shows Indian diplomats and consular staff collected information for the Indian government, which was used to instruct criminal organizations to commit acts of violence in Canada.

Mounties have gathered evidence of credible and imminent threats against members of the South Asian community, particularly members of the pro-Khalistan movement who seek a separate homeland for Sikhs, he said.

On Thanksgiving Monday, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, India’s top envoy to Canada. India denied the accusations and quickly retaliated by expelling Canadian diplomats from its territory.

WATCH | ‘Strong evidence’ links ‘highest levels’ of Indian government to violence, RCMP say

‘Strong evidence’ links ‘highest levels’ of Indian government to violence, RCMP say

Commissioner Mike Duheme tells Power & Politics that RCMP allegations of violence and extortion in Canada are linked to the upper echelons of the Indian government and provides an update on police progress in addressing security threats public.

During his news conference, Duheme said police have warned 13 Canadians since September 2023 that they could be targets of harassment or threats from Indian agents. Police say some of these people have received multiple threats.

Duheme told CBC he believed these people were safer since the Indian diplomats were expelled.

India has denied working with criminal organizations to target Sikh separatists in Canada and accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of having a “political agenda” behind the allegations.