India, on Monday, October 14, rejected the recent diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an ongoing investigation in that country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the allegations baseless and politically motivated. It ascribed them to the political agenda of Justin Trudeau's government, which is centred around vote-bank politics.
“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,” the MEA said.
The MEA said India has taken cognizance of the activities of the Canadian High Commission that serve the political agenda of the current regime. This led to the implementation of the principle of reciprocity regarding diplomatic representation.
Launching a blistering attack, the MEA alleged that 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 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.”
The MEA said, “Multiple extradition requests from the Indian Government in respect of terrorists and organized crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded.”
The MEA further said, “Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. His cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India.
“Trudeau government's 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. His government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage,” the MEA added.
“PM Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, but the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Indian Government, despite many requests.”
“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.”
It is no coincidence that it took place as Prime Minister Trudeau was to depose before a Commission on Foreign Inference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for, MEA said.
