New Delhi, October 14: India has withdrawn its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, along with other diplomats, following rising tensions between the two nations.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and expressed strong disapproval over what it described as the "baseless targeting" of Indian diplomats in Canada.
In a statement, the MEA conveyed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has endangered the safety of Indian officials by fostering an atmosphere of extremism and violence. "We have no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security," the release said, emphasizing that India's decision was prompted by what it considers hostile actions by Canada.
The Indian government rejected recent diplomatic communications from Canada, which implied that Indian diplomats were involved in a Canadian investigation. India's MEA called these allegations "preposterous" and linked them to Trudeau's political agenda, accusing his administration of supporting extremism, violence, and separatist movements.
This withdrawal follows months of diplomatic strain, particularly after Trudeau's allegations in September 2023 about Indian involvement in a domestic matter. India criticized the Canadian government for not providing any evidence to support its claims.
India highlighted Sanjay Kumar Verma's distinguished career and condemned the aspersions cast on him. The statement further accused Trudeau's government of having a history of hostility towards India, referencing past incidents of interference in Indian politics.
The diplomatic rift between the two countries continues to deepen, with India reserving the right to take further steps in response to Canada's actions.
