India rips into Canada's latest move on Nijjar probe, slams Trudeau's 'anti-India separatist agenda'

Canada PM Justin Trudeau

India on Monday tore into the Trudeau government's "political agenda" after Canada told New Delhi on October 13 that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are "persons of interest" in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a hard-hitting media statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said that India "strongly rejects these preposterous imputations" and "ascribes them to the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics."

It added that the Canadian government has not presented a "shred of evidence" ever since it levelled allegations that India was involved in the alleged murder plot.

"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 said.

The MEA said that Canada's latest move shows that there is "a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains" in the pretext of an investigation.

In a detailed statement, the MEA said that Prime Minister Trudeau’s "hostility" towards India has long been in evidence. It also gave examples to substantiate the statement.

"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. 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," it said.

The MEA said that Trudeau has now deliberately dragged India's name in an attempt to mitigate the damage from the criticism over foreign interference in Canadian politics.

"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 said.

The ministry reiterated that 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 organized crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded," it said, without naming anyone in particular.

It also called out the Canadian government for casting aspersions on High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, who has had a distinguished career spanning 36 years.

"The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt," it said.

The ministry said that India reserves the right to respond to Canada in a strong manner.

"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 in regard to 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 said.

Ties between India and Canada nosedived after PM Trudeau alleged Indian hand in the murder of Nijjar in his country.

India has repeatedly denied its involvement and hit out at Canada for giving space to extremists and anti-India elements.