India summons Chargé d’Affaires of High Commission of Canada; on leak of information that was published by a U.S. newspaper, it says irresponsible actions will have serious consequences on ties
Canada’s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah were “absurd and baseless”, said an official of the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday (November 2, 2024). The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said Chargé d’Affaires of the High Commission of Canada Jennifer Daubeny was summoned on Friday (November 1, 2024) and conveyed that Ottawa’s charges will have “serious consequences” for bilateral relations.
“It was conveyed in the Note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison,” said Mr. Jaiswal, in the first official comment from the Indian side on the Canadian revelations linking Mr. Shah with the alleged anti-Khalistan actions in Canada. The war of words has spiked in the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots that had taken place after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
On October 29, Mr. Morrison, Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, had briefed the members of the Public Safety and National Security Committee of the Canadian Parliament on the alleged foreign interference in Canada’s internal affairs. During the question and answer session, he acknowledged that he had confirmed to a U.S. newspaper that Mr. Shah was “involved” in plots to kill Canadian citizens.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly press conference in New Delhi on November 2, 2024. Photo: X/@MEAIndia
“Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” said Mr. Jaiswal referring to the leak of information published in a U.S. newspaper. He described the allegations as “unfounded insinuation”.
On reports leaked by Canadian officials to a U.S. newspaper about NSA Ajit Doval’s meeting in Singapore with Canadian officials in October, the MEA spokesperson maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported 5-hour-long exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
Meanwhile, Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party referred to the alleged Indian campaign against pro-Khalistan elements and equated it with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 saying, “The wounds of the 1984 Sikh Genocide were ripped open in India’s most recent campaign of violence against Sikhs – this time on Canadian soil. The NDP will introduce a motion to officially recognize the Sikh Genocide in Parliament.”
In the backdrop of worsening diplomatic ties, India had earlier withdrawn High Commissioner Sanjay Verma from Ottawa along with several other officials on October 14 after Canada had reached out to India describing them as “persons of interest” in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan advocate based in Surrey, British Columbia.
But Mr. Jaiswal informed that some of the remaining consular officials in the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had been placed under “audio and video surveillance” of the Canadian authorities. “Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” said Mr. Jaiswal calling Canadian actions as “harassment and intimidation”.
“Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices,” said Mr. Jaiswal.
On reports Canadian officials leaked to the U.S. newspaper, on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s meeting with Canadian officials in Singapore in October, Mr. Jaiswal maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported five-hour exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
India in September 2023 temporarily suspended visa for Canadian citizens citing worsening security conditions for the consular officials after a poster campaign by Khalistan advocates targeted Mr. Verma and other Indian officials based out of the High Commission in Canada. The e-visa system was resumed later in November 2023.
The prevailing downturn in relationship was further hit when Canada’s Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelled the scheduled celebration for Deepavali, prompting criticism from members of Canada’s Hindu community. “We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism,” said Mr. Jaiswal in response to a question on the matter.
India-Canada diplomatic row: Canada’s ‘absurd and baseless’ allegations against Home Minister Amit shah will have dire effects, says India
India summons Chargé d’Affaires of High Commission of Canada; on leak of information that was published by a U.S. newspaper, it says irresponsible actions will have serious consequences on ties
Canada’s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah were “absurd and baseless”, said an official of the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday (November 2, 2024). The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said Chargé d’Affaires of the High Commission of Canada Jennifer Daubeny was summoned on Friday (November 1, 2024) and conveyed that Ottawa’s charges will have “serious consequences” for bilateral relations.
“It was conveyed in the Note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison,” said Mr. Jaiswal, in the first official comment from the Indian side on the Canadian revelations linking Mr. Shah with the alleged anti-Khalistan actions in Canada. The war of words has spiked in the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots that had taken place after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
On October 29, Mr. Morrison, Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, had briefed the members of the Public Safety and National Security Committee of the Canadian Parliament on the alleged foreign interference in Canada’s internal affairs. During the question and answer session, he acknowledged that he had confirmed to a U.S. newspaper that Mr. Shah was “involved” in plots to kill Canadian citizens.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly press conference in New Delhi on November 2, 2024. Photo: X/@MEAIndia
“Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” said Mr. Jaiswal referring to the leak of information published in a U.S. newspaper. He described the allegations as “unfounded insinuation”.
On reports leaked by Canadian officials to a U.S. newspaper about NSA Ajit Doval’s meeting in Singapore with Canadian officials in October, the MEA spokesperson maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported 5-hour-long exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
Meanwhile, Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party referred to the alleged Indian campaign against pro-Khalistan elements and equated it with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 saying, “The wounds of the 1984 Sikh Genocide were ripped open in India’s most recent campaign of violence against Sikhs – this time on Canadian soil. The NDP will introduce a motion to officially recognize the Sikh Genocide in Parliament.”
In the backdrop of worsening diplomatic ties, India had earlier withdrawn High Commissioner Sanjay Verma from Ottawa along with several other officials on October 14 after Canada had reached out to India describing them as “persons of interest” in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan advocate based in Surrey, British Columbia.
But Mr. Jaiswal informed that some of the remaining consular officials in the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had been placed under “audio and video surveillance” of the Canadian authorities. “Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” said Mr. Jaiswal calling Canadian actions as “harassment and intimidation”.
“Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices,” said Mr. Jaiswal.
On reports Canadian officials leaked to the U.S. newspaper, on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s meeting with Canadian officials in Singapore in October, Mr. Jaiswal maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported five-hour exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
India in September 2023 temporarily suspended visa for Canadian citizens citing worsening security conditions for the consular officials after a poster campaign by Khalistan advocates targeted Mr. Verma and other Indian officials based out of the High Commission in Canada. The e-visa system was resumed later in November 2023.
The prevailing downturn in relationship was further hit when Canada’s Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelled the scheduled celebration for Deepavali, prompting criticism from members of Canada’s Hindu community. “We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism,” said Mr. Jaiswal in response to a question on the matter.
India-Canada diplomatic row: Canada’s ‘absurd and baseless’ allegations against Home Minister Amit shah will have dire effects, says India
India summons Chargé d’Affaires of High Commission of Canada; on leak of information that was published by a U.S. newspaper, it says irresponsible actions will have serious consequences on ties
Canada’s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah were “absurd and baseless”, said an official of the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday (November 2, 2024). The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said Chargé d’Affaires of the High Commission of Canada Jennifer Daubeny was summoned on Friday (November 1, 2024) and conveyed that Ottawa’s charges will have “serious consequences” for bilateral relations.
“It was conveyed in the Note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison,” said Mr. Jaiswal, in the first official comment from the Indian side on the Canadian revelations linking Mr. Shah with the alleged anti-Khalistan actions in Canada. The war of words has spiked in the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots that had taken place after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
On October 29, Mr. Morrison, Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, had briefed the members of the Public Safety and National Security Committee of the Canadian Parliament on the alleged foreign interference in Canada’s internal affairs. During the question and answer session, he acknowledged that he had confirmed to a U.S. newspaper that Mr. Shah was “involved” in plots to kill Canadian citizens.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly press conference in New Delhi on November 2, 2024. Photo: X/@MEAIndia
“Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” said Mr. Jaiswal referring to the leak of information published in a U.S. newspaper. He described the allegations as “unfounded insinuation”.
On reports leaked by Canadian officials to a U.S. newspaper about NSA Ajit Doval’s meeting in Singapore with Canadian officials in October, the MEA spokesperson maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported 5-hour-long exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
Meanwhile, Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party referred to the alleged Indian campaign against pro-Khalistan elements and equated it with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 saying, “The wounds of the 1984 Sikh Genocide were ripped open in India’s most recent campaign of violence against Sikhs – this time on Canadian soil. The NDP will introduce a motion to officially recognize the Sikh Genocide in Parliament.”
In the backdrop of worsening diplomatic ties, India had earlier withdrawn High Commissioner Sanjay Verma from Ottawa along with several other officials on October 14 after Canada had reached out to India describing them as “persons of interest” in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan advocate based in Surrey, British Columbia.
But Mr. Jaiswal informed that some of the remaining consular officials in the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had been placed under “audio and video surveillance” of the Canadian authorities. “Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” said Mr. Jaiswal calling Canadian actions as “harassment and intimidation”.
“Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices,” said Mr. Jaiswal.
On reports Canadian officials leaked to the U.S. newspaper, on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s meeting with Canadian officials in Singapore in October, Mr. Jaiswal maintained that no evidence had been shared with India about the Nijjar killing. When asked why Mr. Doval had travelled to meet the Canadian officials for a reported five-hour exchange, Mr. Jaiswal said that “several issues” were discussed, without elaborating. He declined to comment on the report that the meeting had to be held in Singapore as India denied visas to the visiting Canadian team.
India in September 2023 temporarily suspended visa for Canadian citizens citing worsening security conditions for the consular officials after a poster campaign by Khalistan advocates targeted Mr. Verma and other Indian officials based out of the High Commission in Canada. The e-visa system was resumed later in November 2023.
The prevailing downturn in relationship was further hit when Canada’s Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelled the scheduled celebration for Deepavali, prompting criticism from members of Canada’s Hindu community. “We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism,” said Mr. Jaiswal in response to a question on the matter.
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