MEA Dismisses Canada’s Allegations as “Politically Driven” in Escalating Diplomatic Row

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has labeled recent allegations made by the Canadian government regarding India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as “politically driven,” as tensions between the two nations continue to rise.

Speaking at a weekly press conference, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed concerns about the allegations made by Canada and emphasized that there was a level of prejudice evident in their claims. He pointed out that while Canada had taken action based on these allegations, no specific information had been shared with India regarding Nijjar’s killing.

“We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada,” Bagchi stated.

The diplomatic row has escalated to the point where both countries are expelling envoys. Bagchi noted that India has conveyed to the Canadian government the need for parity in the strength of diplomatic presence, citing a significant disparity in the numbers. He hinted at the possibility of a reduction in the Canadian diplomatic presence in India.

Furthermore, Bagchi highlighted India’s long-standing concerns about the use of Canadian soil for criminal activities and stated that specific evidence had been shared with Canada in the past. However, no action had been taken on these concerns by Canada.

“We’ve sought either extradition requests or assistance related to that, at least more than 20-25 individuals we’ve requested over the years, but the response has not been helpful at all,” Bagchi explained.

The MEA Spokesperson also emphasized India’s call for Canada to refrain from providing a safe haven to individuals with terrorism charges and urged them to take action against those involved. India has sought cooperation through extradition requests or assistance, but progress in this regard has been limited.

In response to the escalating tensions, India has issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada, advising them to exercise caution. The advisory specifically cautioned against traveling to regions and venues in Canada where anti-India activities have been on the rise. Indian students in Canada were urged to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution.

This development comes in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian government was involved in the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India. Nijjar was killed outside a Gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Trudeau claimed in the Canadian Parliament that his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” were responsible for Nijjar’s killing.

India swiftly rejected these allegations, with the MEA terming them as “absurd and motivated.” The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada continues to unfold, with both nations closely watching the developments and the future of their bilateral relations hanging in the balance.

Also Read: SAD President Calls for Swift Resolution in India-Canada Diplomatic Standoff
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