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India Summons Canadian Official Over Allegations Against Home Minister
In a strong response, India summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission on Friday to protest recent allegations made by a Canadian official against India’s Union Home Minister.
Calling the allegations “absurd and baseless,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) voiced India’s disapproval, delivering an official note of protest.
MEA Condemns Canada’s Claims of Intelligence Leaks
At a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the recent controversy, stating, “Regarding the latest Canadian target, we summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday… It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison.”
The accusations emerged after two high-ranking Canadian officials from Justin Trudeau’s government admitted to leaking intelligence and sensitive information related to India to international media. Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison had reportedly informed a parliamentary panel of alleged links between Indian government agents and incidents of violence against Sikh separatists in Canada, claims that India has categorically denied.
Diplomatic Strains Heighten as India Protests Surveillance
Relations between India and Canada have been tense since Canada’s initial accusations linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani figure. Following these claims, the MEA also condemned Canadian actions of allegedly monitoring Indian consular officials in Canada, calling it a “flagrant violation of diplomatic conventions.”
Jaiswal disclosed that “some of our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance.” He criticized these actions as harassment and intimidation, further complicating diplomatic relations.
India’s strong response included a formal protest to the Canadian government, highlighting the surveillance issue as a serious breach of international diplomatic and consular norms. The MEA warned that “such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.”
The escalating tensions underline the challenges facing India-Canada relations, with accusations and counter-accusations creating a diplomatic rift between the two nations. India has indicated that it views Canada’s actions as part of a deliberate strategy aimed at undermining its global image and influencing international opinion against New Delhi.
