Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa remain frosty over Canada’s support for the Khalistani separatists and over false accusations Canada has levelled against India over the murder of a Khalistani separatist. (IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK)
The external affairs ministry lashed out the Canadian government after it sent a diplomatic communication saying Indian envoy and other Indian diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a probe.
The external affairs ministry has summoned the Canadian envoy on Monday, a day after it said it received diplomatic communication from Canada which said that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country, CNN-News18 has learned.
The Canadian chargé d’affaires to India is Stewart Wheeler and is appearing in place of the Canadian envoy. Cameron MacKay, the High Commissioner for Canada in India, is not present in the country, CNN-News18 has learned.
India has firmly denied Canada’s accusations tying senior Indian diplomats to an ongoing investigation, labelling it as part of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau-led government’s ‘political agenda’.
India-Canada relations have been tense since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged last year that “Indian agents” were behind the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has consistently denied the accusation.
On Monday, India criticised Canada by saying that it has failed to share a “shred of evidence” with New Delhi and that the accusations are motivated by Trudeau’s ‘vote bank politics’.
