Rejecting a Canadian minister’s claims that Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered targeting of Khalistani militants in the country, India has termed them “absurd and baseless” and said a Canadian diplomat has been summoned. Is.
Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison made these allegations while addressing members of the country’s Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Tuesday.
Responding to a question on Saturday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a representative of the Canadian High Commission was called on Friday and a diplomatic note was handed over.
“The note states that the Government of India strongly opposes the absurd and baseless references made before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison to the Union Home Minister of India,” Mr Jaiswal said.
Canada has acknowledged that its officials leaked sensitive information to the Washington Post and the Foreign Ministry warned that such actions would have “serious consequences” on relations between India and Canada.
“Indeed, the revelation that senior Canadian officials deliberately leaked baseless insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other countries only confirms the view that the Indian government has long held.” “Regardless of the current Canadian government’s political agenda and behavioral patterns, such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral relations,” the spokesperson said.
classification, monitoring
Responding to reports that Canada has named India a “adversary” along with China, North Korea, Russia and Iran in its national cyber threat assessment, Mr Jaiswal said this is a series of allegations being made without evidence. And there is example.
“This appears to be another example of the Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they want to manipulate global opinion against India. On other occasions Like, allegations are made without any evidence.” He said.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said that some consular officials of India had been informed by the Canadian government that they were being monitored and described this as a “gross violation” of diplomatic conventions. He also made it clear that New Delhi views this action as harassment and intimidation.
“Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they were and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government Because we consider these actions to be a gross violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” Mr Jaiswal said.
“By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is engaging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular staff are already working in an environment of extremism and violence. This action by the Canadian government is inconsistent with the position and is inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and practices,” he stressed.
diwali celebration
On Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre canceling Diwali celebrations to be held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, which drew sharp reactions from the Indian community, Mr Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports in this regard. It “It is unfortunate that the current climate in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.”
On the reduction in the number of visas by the Canadian government, the spokesperson said the ministry is monitoring the well-being of students and temporary workers from India who are currently in Canada and its concern for their safety remains strong.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year claimed without evidence that “Indian agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – an allegation that New Delhi rejected. Have rejected it many times. Times.
The relationship reached a new low earlier this month when the Indian High Commissioner was declared a “person of interest” in the murder. India rejected the new allegation as “ridiculous” and withdrew the high commissioner and some diplomats, while expelling six diplomats, including Canada’s acting high commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler.
