The recalled Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma called Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to be joined at the hip with some pernicious associations. This, according to him, includes Khalistani extremists and anti-Indian elements. Verma claimed that the Trudeau government is protecting these extremists in pursuit of petty domestic political interests.
“Justin Trudeau has a circle of friends in which anti-Indian elements and Khalistani extremists abound. We saw the repercussions in the kind of reception awaiting him when he visited India in 2018,” Verma said, referring to the invitation to a Khalistani sympathizer Jaspal Atwal at events hosted for Trudeau.
Verma was quick to underline that this encouragement to Khalistani extremists had often been on account of a lack of action by the Canadian government. “In our assessment, much of the support these extremists and terrorists have received is due to inaction on the part of the authorities,” he said.
The sharp deteriorations in the India-Canada relationship have come amid Canadian government assertions that Indian diplomats in Canada, all the way up to the High Commissioner, were “persons of interest” in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In retaliation, India called its diplomats back and expelled six Canadian diplomats.
Addressing the claim of the Canadians that India has not cooperated with the investigation into the killing of Najjar, Verma said, “We have not seen any hard evidence that can be legally shared with us. Our actions have been within the framework of the Vienna Convention, and we have not violated any protocols.”
Trudeau himself had acknowledged that his government had only “intelligence” about possible links between Indian officials and the killing of Najjar without actual evidentiary proof. The Vienna Convention stipulates consular officers’ rights and responsibilities and guides consulates’ operations worldwide.
Verma further said the Khalistani extremists hooliganized outside the Indian consulates, creating an atmosphere of intimidation. “There were continuous threats against us, and anybody could have been harmed. The Canadian government provided some security for me as the High Commissioner and two consul generals in Toronto and Vancouver. Still, we had many more colleagues who needed protection,” he further explained.
