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India on Monday summoned the Canadian Charge d\u2019affaires over the country\u2019s diplomatic note naming the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as \u201cpersons of interest\u201d in an ongoing probe.<\/p>\n
The MEA summoned Cd\u2019A Stewart Wheeler and issued him a demarche over the note, which the MEA said was \u201cpolitically motivated\u201d and \u201cagenda of the Trudeau Government\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Canadian Charge d\u2019Affaires was summoned by Secretary (East) this evening. He was informed that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable. It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government\u2019s actions endangered their safety. We have no faith in the current Canadian Government\u2019s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials. It was also conveyed that India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau Government\u2019s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India,\u201d MEA said in a press release.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are \u2018persons of interest\u2019 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 centered around vote bank politics,\u201d MEA said in a press release earlier today.<\/p>\n
The MEA did not directly mention the case but the relations between the two countries hit all-time low after Canada linked Indian diplomats to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has time and again said that the Trudeau-led country failed to provide any evidence for the claims.<\/p>\n
The allegations were first made by Justin Trudeau in Canada Parliament in September last year but no evidence has been shared with regards to the same so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 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,\u201d the release added.<\/p>\n