'Naked interference…hostility towards India, Political agenda of the Trudeau Government': MEA slams Canada PM Justin Trudeau over latest allegations
Press Release: Canadian Charge d’Affaires summoned by MEA ⬇️https://t.co/7hou1pgdCD
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 14, 2024
Press release: India expels Canadian diplomats ⬇️https://t.co/bVhI1gPsca
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 14, 2024
Canada has accused Indian officials of being involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has categorically rejected the claim and has asked for evidence substantiating the grave allegations.
New Delhi today said that Justin Trudeau's hostility to India had been long known.
"Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India," it said.
Our response to diplomatic communication from Canada:https://t.co/TepgpVVPxp
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 14, 2024
"His 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. Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his Government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage. This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains," it added.
Referring to Canada's Nijjar allegations, the MEA said the country hasn't shared a shred of evidence with New Delhi. It said that on the pretext of an investigation, the Canadian government was running a smear campaign against India.
"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. 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 added.
New Delhi said in the statement that the Trudeau government was providing space in Canada for terrorists to harass and intimidate Indian diplomats.
"To that end, 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," it said.
MEA said the allegations against High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt.
"The Government of India has taken cognizance of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India that serve the political agenda of the current regime. This led to the implementation of the principle of reciprocity regarding diplomatic representation. 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," it added.
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