India on Sunday firmly rejected what it called "preposterous imputations" made by the Canadian government, dismissing recent allegations that Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, were "persons of interest" in an ongoing investigation in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement criticizing the Canadian government’s claims as politically motivated and aimed at serving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vote bank agenda.
The MEA statement highlighted the lack of evidence provided by Canada since Prime Minister Trudeau made allegations against India in September 2023. Despite repeated requests for clarity, the Canadian government has failed to substantiate its claims, the ministry said.
“This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts,” the statement read. “This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains.”
India also referenced Trudeau’s past interactions with India, notably his 2018 visit, which the MEA said was intended to curry favor with specific political groups. The visit, as well as the presence of individuals in his Cabinet associated with extremist and separatist agendas against India, was described as a continuation of Trudeau's efforts to leverage India's internal matters for political purposes.
The MEA accused the Trudeau government of providing a platform for violent extremists and separatist groups to target Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada, citing incidents of harassment, threats, and death threats. India claimed that these actions have been justified by Canadian authorities in the name of freedom of speech.
“Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence,” the statement continued. “That his government has been dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-Ã -vis India, has only aggravated matters.”
The Indian government also expressed frustration over multiple unaddressed extradition requests for individuals involved in terrorism and organized crime who are living in Canada.
The MEA underscored the credentials of High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, describing him as India’s senior-most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years, including postings in Japan, Sudan, Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam, and China. India dismissed the allegations against Verma as baseless and “ludicrous.”
In response to the perceived hostility, India hinted at taking further steps against the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, aligning with the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
“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 statement concluded.
The MEA's response comes as Prime Minister Trudeau prepares to appear before a commission investigating foreign interference in Canadian politics, a development India alleges is linked to the timing of the accusations against its diplomats.
0 Comments