The 2023 homicide of Nijjar crashed diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa. (Representational)
New Delhi:
India has summoned Canada’s cost d’ affairs in New Delhi after the diplomatic relations between the 2 international locations witnessed a brand new low at this time. International Ministry’s summons to Stewart Wheeler adopted the federal government’s criticism of Canada for investigating the Indian ambassador and different diplomats as “individuals of curiosity” over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) mentioned India obtained a “diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian Excessive Commissioner and different diplomats are ‘individuals of curiosity’ in a matter associated to an investigation in that nation”.
The federal government known as the allegations “preposterous” and a “technique of smearing India for political features”.
“The Authorities of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Authorities that’s centred round vote financial institution politics,” the federal government mentioned in a pointy rebuttal.
“India now reserves the appropriate to take additional steps in response to those newest efforts of the Canadian Authorities to concoct allegations towards Indian diplomats,” the international ministry added.
The 2023 homicide of Nijjar crashed diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned there have been “credible allegations” linking Indian intelligence to the crime. India, which had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020, dismissed the fees as “absurd”.
Canada has now reportedly named the Indian Excessive Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a ‘individual of curiosity’ in its investigation. India accused Canada of maligning its officers with out proof and utilizing “preposterous” claims to justify its failure to curb Khalistani extremism on its soil.
“Excessive Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is India’s senior-most serving diplomat with a distinguished profession spanning 36 years. He has been an Ambassador in Japan and Sudan, whereas additionally serving in Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam and China. The aspersions forged on him by the Authorities of Canada are ludicrous and should be handled with contempt,” the international ministry mentioned.
It mentioned Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has lengthy been in proof. In 2018, his go to to India, “which was aimed toward currying favour with a vote financial institution, rebounded to his discomfort”.
“His Cupboard has included people who’ve brazenly related to an extremist and separatist agenda concerning India,” the ministry mentioned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi just lately met Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos, virtually a yr after his Canadian counterpart accused India of involvement within the dying of a Khalistani terrorist.
Whilst sources in New Delhi mentioned there was no substantive dialogue between the 2 leaders, Trudeau termed the assembly a “temporary trade”.
“I will not go into particulars about what we talked about however what I’ve mentioned many occasions is that the protection of Canadians and upholding the rule of legislation is without doubt one of the elementary obligations of any Canadian authorities and that is what I will keep centered on,” Trudeau advised a press convention at Vientiane.
Canada is residence to round 7,70,000 Sikhs, who make up about two % of the nation’s inhabitants.
India has been sustaining that the principle situation between the 2 international locations is that of Canada giving house to pro-Khalistan components working from Canadian soil with impunity.