India Summons Canadian Diplomat Over "Baseless" Allegations Against Home Minister Amit Shah
India dismisses Canada’s claims against Home Minister Amit Shah as "baseless," summoning a Canadian diplomat in protest. MEA warns of serious consequences for India-Canada relations, citing diplomatic violations, surveillance of Indian officials, and attempts to damage India's global image.
New Delhi: India has strongly dismissed recent allegations made by a Canadian minister suggesting that Home Minister Amit Shah directed operations targeting Khalistani extremists in Canada, calling these claims "absurd and baseless." In response, India summoned a Canadian diplomat to express its objections.
On Tuesday, Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, David Morrison, made the allegations during an address to the country's Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in response to a question on Saturday, confirmed that the Canadian High Commission's representative was summoned, and a diplomatic note of protest was handed over on Friday.
The MEA’s note conveyed India’s firm objection to the “baseless” statements made by Morrison regarding Amit Shah. The MEA warned that Canadian officials’ recent actions, such as leaking sensitive information to the Washington Post, are likely to have “serious consequences” for India-Canada relations.
According to Jaiswal, "These irresponsible actions show that the Canadian government is deliberately trying to damage India’s image on the international stage. Such baseless insinuations will only worsen diplomatic ties."
India Listed as Adversary in Canadian Cybersecurity Assessment
Reports indicate that Canada has labeled India an “adversary” alongside China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran in its National Cyber Threat Assessment. Jaiswal criticized this move, describing it as yet another attempt by Canadian authorities to harm India’s global standing without providing any evidence.
“This is clearly part of a wider strategy from the Canadian government to malign India and influence other nations," Jaiswal said, adding that the MEA sees this as unfounded and politically motivated.
Indian Consular Officials Under Surveillance
The MEA spokesperson also revealed that Canadian authorities have allegedly been surveilling some Indian consular officials, a move India has condemned as a “flagrant violation” of diplomatic protocols. "Our officials were informed by the Canadian government that they have been under audio and video surveillance, with communications intercepted. We regard these actions as harassment and a breach of diplomatic conventions," Jaiswal said.
India emphasized that these actions threaten diplomatic protocols, particularly given the challenging environment for Indian officials in Canada. The MEA also highlighted that these measures by Canada are incompatible with international diplomatic norms, further straining the ties between the two countries.
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