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 nations witnessed a brand new low at the moment. Foreign 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 External Affairs (MEA) stated India obtained a “diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and different diplomats are ‘individuals of curiosity’ in a matter associated to an investigation in that nation”.
The authorities known as the allegations “preposterous” and a “technique of smearing India for political good points”.
“The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that’s centred round vote financial institution politics,” the federal government stated in a pointy rebuttal.
“India now reserves the suitable to take additional steps in response to those newest efforts of the Canadian Government 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 stated 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 High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a ‘particular person 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.
“High 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 solid on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and need to be handled with contempt,” the international ministry stated.
It stated Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has lengthy been in proof. In 2018, his go to to India, “which was geared toward currying favour with a vote financial institution, rebounded to his discomfort”.
“His Cabinet has included people who’ve overtly related to an extremist and separatist agenda concerning India,” the ministry stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi just lately met Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos, nearly a yr after his Canadian counterpart accused India of involvement within the demise of a Khalistani terrorist.
Even as sources in New Delhi stated there was no substantive dialogue between the 2 leaders, Trudeau termed the assembly a “transient alternate”.
“I will not go into particulars about what we talked about however what I’ve stated many occasions is that the security of Canadians and upholding the rule of legislation is likely one of the elementary tasks of any Canadian authorities and that is what I’ll keep targeted on,” Trudeau instructed a press convention at Vientiane.
Canada is house 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 nations is that of Canada giving area to pro-Khalistan parts working from Canadian soil with impunity.