India rejects Canada’s allegations against diplomats, calls claims “politically motivated” by Trudeau govt

New Delhi, Oct 14: New Delhi: India received a diplomatic communication yesterday from Canada alleging that the Indian High Commissioner and other Indian diplomats were "persons of interest" in an investigation being conducted by Canadian authorities.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded forcefully, rejecting these claims and highlighting the lack of credible evidence behind the allegations. In a detailed and stern rebuttal, the MEA said that these accusations were not only baseless but were also politically motivated, driven by the internal politics of Canada, particularly by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration.

In the diplomatic communication, Canada suggested that India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, along with other senior diplomats, were allegedly involved in an unspecified investigation. The Indian government swiftly responded, expressing its deep concern over what it termed as "preposterous imputations" and emphasising that the charges were designed to serve a narrow political agenda.

The MEA Press release further said, “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 to 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. Multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organised crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded.”

According to the MEA, the latest allegations are part of a pattern of unfounded assertions made by Canada in recent months. This diplomatic escalation comes on the heels of earlier claims by Prime Minister Trudeau in September 2023, in which he accused India of involvement in an incident related to the killing of Canadian national Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known extremist associated with the Khalistan separatist movement.

MEA and the government at the time, vehemently denied any involvement and requested substantive evidence to back these claims. However, despite repeated calls from India, the Canadian government has failed to provide any evidence supporting its allegations.

The MEA's statement emphasised, “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.” It further added that these continuous baseless claims leave "little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains."

The diplomatic strain between India and Canada have been simmering for several years, particularly since Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister. Trudeau's administration has been repeatedly accused of pandering to extremist elements within the Sikh diaspora in Canada, particularly those with ties to the Khalistan movement.

The MEA alluded to Trudeau’s visit to India in 2018 as an early indication of the Canadian Prime Minister’s tendency to mix diplomacy with vote-bank politics. Trudeau’s visit to India was widely criticised, not only because of a diplomatic faux pas that saw a convicted Khalistani terrorist invited to an official event, but also due to his overt courtship of the Sikh diaspora, many of whom have ties to separatist groups. The MEA noted that Trudeau’s visit to India, aimed at “currying favour with a vote bank,” had rebounded to his “discomfort.”

The MEA’s statement also highlighted Trudeau’s Cabinet’s inclusion of individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. Such associations have only further strained the bilateral relationship.

"Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence," the MEA pointed out, adding that his government’s dependence on a political party that espouses separatism has further aggravated tensions. This was a clear reference to the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, a supporter of the Khalistan movement and a key ally of Trudeau’s minority government.

In its latest response, the Indian government stressed that the allegations against its diplomats were part of a larger political strategy by the Trudeau government, aimed at diverting attention from its own domestic challenges. “Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, [the Canadian] government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage,” the MEA stated.

Trudeau’s administration has faced intense scrutiny over allegations of foreign interference by other countries, including China, in Canadian elections. Many political observers in Canada believe that the Trudeau government’s accusations against India may be an attempt to shift the narrative and deflect criticism from these issues. The timing of these allegations, according to the MEA, is no coincidence. "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," the MEA added.

Indian Diplomats Under Threat

India’s response also brought attention to the deteriorating security situation for its diplomats and community leaders in Canada, who have been subjected to increasing harassment, intimidation, and even death threats from pro-Khalistan extremists. The MEA noted that Canada has allowed such extremists to operate freely under the guise of protecting freedom of speech. "The Trudeau Government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada," the MEA’s statement asserted.

The government expressed particular concern about the safety of High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, who has had a distinguished 36-year career in Indian diplomacy, having served in key postings in Japan, Sudan, Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam, and China. "The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt," the MEA said, adding that such baseless allegations only serve to embolden those who wish to harm India’s interests.

Canada’s continued allegations and its failure to protect Indian diplomats from extremist threats, India has taken reciprocal measures. The MEA has indicated that India will continue to review the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India and will take further steps as necessary. "The Government of India has taken cognisance of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India that serve the political agenda of the current regime," the statement noted.

The MEA also made it clear that India reserves the right to take additional actions in response to the Canadian government’s continued attempts to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats. "India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian Government," it warned.

The latest diplomatic communication from Canada and India's forceful rebuttal signifies yet another low point in Indo-Canadian relations. What began as a political misstep by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2018 has now escalated into a full-blown diplomatic rift.

For now, India's message is clear: it will not tolerate baseless allegations that serve domestic political agendas, and it expects Canada to respect the norms of international diplomacy.