External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has accused Canada of applying “inconsistent standards” in its diplomatic relations. Speaking at the ‘NDTV World Summit 2024: The India Century’, Jaishankar highlighted discrepancies in how Canada handles threats against Indian diplomats versus similar situations involving Canadian officials.
Jaishankar stated, “Canada appears to grant itself a different set of rules compared to the restrictions it imposes on its diplomats.” He pointed out that while Canada defends threats against Indian leaders as “freedom of speech,” any critical comments from Indian journalists regarding Canadian diplomats are labeled as foreign interference. He described this as a clear case of double standards.
His comments come amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, following India’s expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and the recall of its envoy after Canada named Indian diplomats, including its High Commissioner, as “persons of interest” in the investigation of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead in Surrey in June last year, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged that Indian government agents were involved.
Jaishankar emphasized that the global order is shifting, stating, “The world order after 1945 was heavily Western. Over the last 20-25 years, there has been a rebalancing towards a multipolar world, with non-Western countries gaining greater influence.” He noted that this shift is causing difficulties for traditional Western nations in adapting to new realities.
He also addressed specific issues between India and Canada, criticizing Canada’s request for a police inquiry into India’s High Commissioner, which led India to withdraw its diplomats. Jaishankar remarked on Canada’s apparent discomfort with Indian efforts to gather information related to its diplomats’ safety while noting that Canadian diplomats operate freely in India, collecting information on military and police matters.
The ongoing diplomatic tensions underscore the need for clearer and more equitable standards in international relations, according to Jaishankar.
