India-Canada ties soured after last September said that Ottawa was “actively pursuing credible allegations” that Indian agents were potentially linked to the killing of Nijjar
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday strongly rejected the Trudeau government’s claims about the involvement of senior Indian diplomats in a probe related to a case in Canada, saying that these activities “serve the political agenda of the current regime.”
This response came as MEA received a diplomatic communication from the country suggesting that Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country, without publicly naming the case in question.
India-Canada ties soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last September said that Ottawa was “actively pursuing credible allegations” that Indian agents were potentially linked to the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi has rejected the allegations and asked Ottawa to furnish proof.
‘Political agenda’
“The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” the MEA said in a strongly-worded statement. Since Trudeau made allegations in September 2023, the MEA said that the “Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side.”
“This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains,” the ministry added in a strong response to Ottawa.
History of ‘Hostility to India’
Underlining Trudeau’s past hostility towards India, the MEA cited his 2018 visit, which it stated was “aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort.” Without naming anyone, it said the current government in Canada has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India.
“His 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-à-vis India, only aggravated matters,” the ministry said.
‘Narrow political gains’
Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, the ministry said that the Trudeau government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage. “This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction,” it added.
“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.
‘Space to violent extremists’
Furthermore, the ministry underscored how the Trudeau Government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to “harass, threaten and intimidate” Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.
“This has included death threats to them and to Indian leaders. All these activities have been justified in the name of freedom of speech. Some individuals who have entered Canada illegally have been fast-tracked for citizenship. Multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organized crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded,” it added.
High Commissioner Verma
Rejection allegation against India’s High Commissioner, MEA said Ambassador Verma is India’s senior-most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years. “He has been Ambassador in Japan and Sudan, while also serving in Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam and China. The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt,” the MEA said.
‘Further Action’
Taking cognizance of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India that serve the political agenda, the MEA further said, “This led to the implementation of the principle of reciprocity in regard to diplomatic representation. India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian Government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats.”
