In a strong denunciation of recent actions taken by the Canadian government, India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, addressed the escalating diplomatic tensions during an event in Pune on Saturday. His remarks came in the wake of Canada’s declaration that Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was a “person of interest” in the investigation surrounding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Jaishankar firmly stated that India rejects Canada’s targeting of its diplomats, describing the treatment of High Commissioner Verma and other Indian officials as unacceptable. This diplomatic spat intensified after the Canadian authorities implicated Verma, prompting India to recall its high commissioner and expel six Canadian diplomats in a tit-for-tat response.
Verma expressed his dismay over Canada’s actions, characterizing the declaration as “shock” and akin to “back-stabbing.” His comments reflect the deepening rift between the two nations, which had already been strained by issues surrounding organized crime and radical elements within Canada.
During his address, Jaishankar highlighted that the tensions stem from a “small but vocal minority” in Canada, whose influence he believes is harmful to the relations between India and Canada, as well as detrimental to Canada’s own societal fabric. He emphasized that India’s concerns regarding organized crime in Canada have long been ignored, creating a “permissive atmosphere” for such elements to thrive.
Jaishankar expressed hope that Canada would move towards more sensible political discourse, suggesting that addressing these underlying issues could pave the way for a more constructive relationship between the two countries.
The diplomatic standoff signals a significant deterioration in India-Canada relations, with both nations facing increasing pressure to resolve the growing crisis amicably.
