&w=1024&resize=1024,0&ssl=1 "'Trudeau's hostility has long been evident': India strikes back at Canada | Foreign Defense Security News")
India strongly condemned recent diplomatic communications from Canada which indicated that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats had become “persons of interest” in ongoing investigations in that country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday linked the claims to Justin Trudeau's government's political strategy to secure electoral support.
Canada has accused India of involvement in the murder of pro-Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nizar.
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High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, who has served in Japan, Sudan and several other countries, is prominently mentioned in Canadian releases.
Last year, Verma asked the Canadian government to provide evidence to support his allegations against the Indian government.
In a statement, the ministry said: “Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, no competent evidence has been made available to the Government of India. “Instead, this new communication continues the trend of baseless claims that appear to be part of a deliberate strategy to malign India for political purposes,” the statement said.
Background to the dispute between India and Canada
Diplomatic tensions between the two countries erupted shortly after Prime Minister Trudeau's visit to India in 2018. The Trudeau administration has been repeatedly accused of spreading “separatism, extremism and violence” in Canada. Trudeau spoke to people believed to be associated with the pro-Khalistan movement, attended events and refused to cancel rallies, saying it was not the Canadian government's responsibility to “suppress political protests.”
His administration also faced criticism for bringing into the cabinet people with links to extremist and separatist agendas related to India.
The tie-up has further strained relations between the two countries, with the MEA terming Trudeau's move as “blatant interference” in India's internal affairs.
Tensions escalated in December 2020 when Trudeau expressed support for protests in India, which was perceived as direct interference in the country's internal affairs.
Canadian complaint against Indian diplomats
The ministry said the current allegations represent an attempt by the Trudeau administration to deflect criticism of foreign interference in Canadian politics.
“It is no coincidence that these allegations come at a time when Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to testify before the Foreign Interference Commission. Targeting Indian diplomats is part of this broader context,” the MEA added.
Indian diplomats persecuted in Canada
India has expressed concern about Canada's tolerance of “extremist elements”. In its statement, the ministry noted that diplomats and community leaders face harassment and threats, including death threats, under the guise of freedom of expression. The MEA noted that persons linked to criminal activities in India have been allowed to settle in Canada. The statement added that several extradition requests had been ignored.
The MEA described the allegations against Verma as “ridiculous” and “offensive”.
“High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is India's most senior diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years… The defamatory campaign against him by the Canadian government is absurd and deserves contempt,” the MEA said.
In light of this development, the Government of India has raised the possibility of taking further steps, invoking the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic missions.
