India calls Canada's allegations as "Preposterous imputations"

India on Monday strongly rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were persons of interest in an investigation and termed it as preposterous imputations and part of the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau government reported news agency ANIThe Ministry of External Affairs MEA stated in a statement that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023 regarding Indias involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh NijjarHowever the Canadian government has not shared a single piece of evidence with the Indian government despite many requests from them the statement saidThe MEA said We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest in a matter related to an investigation in that country The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centred around vote bank politicsSince 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 saidThe MEA pointed out that Trudeaus government has a history of hostility towards India citing past actions such as including individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding IndiaRecalling Trudeaus past actions MEA stated Prime Minister Trudeaus 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 IndiardquoThe statement noted that the Canadian PMs naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was ready to go in this regardThat his Government was dependent on a political party whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology visavis 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 damagerdquo it saidThe statement went on to add that the Trudeau Government has constantly looked for narrow political gainsThis 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 antiIndia separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gainsThe MEA also expressed concerns about the Canadian governments tolerance for extremist elements that harass Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada It highlighted instances of harassment and intimidation justified as freedom of speechTo 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 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 fasttracked for citizenship Multiple extradition requests from the Government of India in respect of terrorists and organised crime leaders living in Canada have been disregarded MEA saidThe statement defended High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma noting his extensive diplomatic career spanning 36 years and dismissing the allegations against him as ludicrousHigh Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is Indias senior most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years He has been Ambassador in Japan and Sudan while also serving in Italy Turkiye Vietnam and China The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contemptThe MEA said that the Indian government has taken ldquocognizancerdquo of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India that serve the political agenda of the current governmentIt further said 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 as reported by ANIRead the full statement hereOur response to diplomatic communication from CanadahttpstcoTepgpVVPxpmdash Randhir Jaiswal MEAIndia October 14 2024The ties between India and Canada soured when Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he had credible allegations of Indias hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh NijjarIndia has denied all the allegations calling them absurd and motivated and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and antiIndia elements in their country stated ANIIndiarsquos National Investigation Agency had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020 Nijjar was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last yearWith inputs from ANI