India Summons Canada’s
India summoned Canada’s charge d’affaires, Stewart Wheeler, following a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This comes after Canada began investigating the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in connection with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, which strained ties between the countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India received a diplomatic communication from Canada implicating the Indian High Commissioner and diplomats in the investigation. India has fiercely rejected the allegations, calling them “preposterous” and accusing the Canadian government of engaging in “vote bank politics” for political gains.
“The Government of India strongly rejects these imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government,” read a statement from the foreign ministry. India also warned of potential retaliatory measures against Canada’s accusations.
The tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed there were “credible allegations” linking Indian intelligence to Nijjar’s murder, which India dismissed as “absurd.” Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India in 2020, was killed in 2023.
Canada has reportedly named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a ‘person of interest’ in its investigation. India has criticized Canada for maligning its officials without evidence, accusing it of failing to curb Khalistani extremism within its borders.
“High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, a diplomat with a distinguished 36-year career, has served in multiple countries, including Japan, Sudan, and China. The aspersions cast on him by the Canadian government are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt,” the MEA added.
The diplomatic row shows no signs of easing as both countries stand firm in their positions.
Refrence by NDTV
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