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Indian Envoy Accuses Trudeau of Damaging Canada-India Ties
India’s envoy to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who has now been withdrawn by New Delhi, has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of wrecking bilateral relations.
In an interview aired on Sunday, Verma reiterated that Ottawa’s accusations against Indian diplomats, including linking him to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, were politically motivated and without evidence.
Diplomatic Rift Deepens Over Nijjar Allegations
Tensions between India and Canada escalated following Trudeau’s claims that Indian diplomats were connected to the killing of Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist murdered in British Columbia last year. In response, India recalled its diplomats, which was followed by Canada’s formal expulsion of the officials. India, in turn, ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave.
Verma, speaking to CTV, refuted the allegations, stating, “No evidence was presented. This is politically motivated.” He questioned the grounds on which he was being implicated, emphasizing that no proof had been shared, as would be expected in any legal case.
India’s Strong Rebuttal
India has dismissed the accusations as baseless, with the Foreign Ministry describing them as “ludicrous” and deserving of “contempt.” The ministry expressed deep distrust in the Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring the security of its diplomats, further straining the already deteriorating relations between the two countries.
The diplomatic rift has significantly worsened relations, which have been on a downward spiral since late last year, casting a shadow over future cooperation between the two nations.
