India's interior minister Amit Shah, accused by Canada of being behind plots to target Sikh separatists in that country, has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi's closest aide for decades and is widely seen as his hard-nosed alter ego and potential successor.

Morrison told the committee that he had confirmed Amit Shah's name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations a day before India recalled its six diplomats from Canada.

Govt sources say Shah ‘won’t give credence to claim just because Canada PM willing to stoop to any level to appease vote bank’. Canada has also asked India to restrain Lawrence Bishnoi.