Ottawa, October 21 (IANS). In his first reaction to New Delhi’s withdrawal from Canada amid Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ongoing “hostility” towards India, senior diplomat and High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma described the allegations made by Ottawa as “politically motivated”.
No evidence was presented by the Canadian government regarding India’s alleged involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
“Nothing. No evidence was presented. This is politically motivated,” Verma told Canada’s CTV before leaving the country.
Earlier this week, India had decided to recall its High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials from Canada.
Asked about India’s refusal to join the so-called ongoing investigation, Verma told the Canadian network, “If Trudeau or his aides know about it, isn’t it a crime to not file a chargesheet? Isn’t it a crime to not follow the judicial process? On what basis do they want to question me? If for example you are a defendant, which I am not, the evidence will be shared with you and so on. When you’re caught for a minor crime, I need to know what I’m being interrogated for so I can be prepared. I am going.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had criticized Ottawa for casting aspersion on Verma. Verma is one of India’s most senior diplomats, with a distinguished career spanning 36 years and has served as Ambassador to Japan and Sudan, and to Italy, Turkey, Vietnam and China.
He had described the allegations against Verma as “ridiculous” and worthy of contempt.
During the interview, Verma clarified that the Indian government has never targeted any individual with the intention of killing them.
New Delhi has long claimed that the Trudeau government has “deliberately” provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, intimidate and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.
Announcing its decision to recall Verma and other diplomats on October 14, India had stressed that it had no confidence in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring their security in an environment of extremism and violence.
Verma told CTV, “The first point is to show me the evidence and I have been talking about this since day one. Also we want to know what Khalistani elements are doing in Canada. Yes, we want to know that. It is our national interest and our main concern with Canada trying to break up Indian territory, so if Canadian politicians are so naive I don’t know what my enemies are doing here. So they don’t know what international relations are.”
Testifying before the country’s foreign interference inquiry on Wednesday, Trudeau acknowledged that Ottawa had some intelligence but had no concrete evidence before accusing India of Nijjar’s killing.
Trudeau acknowledged in an in-camera hearing before the committee that, “At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidence.”
Interestingly, Trudeau is running into difficult times at home and abroad, with many leaders from his own party and several Members of Parliament publicly expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership and calling for his official resignation in the near future. Preparing to make demands.
On Thursday, Canadian media reported that at least 20 MPs have agreed to add their names to the call for Trudeau’s removal from office. The move appears to be “soon turning into a serious effort” to remove Trudeau from office.
India has made it clear several times that Trudeau is pursuing a “deliberate strategy” to defame India for political gains.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday, “What we have heard today confirms what we have been saying all along. Canada has not provided any evidence to support the serious allegations made against India and Indian diplomats.” Prime Minister Trudeau alone is responsible for the damage caused to India-Canada relations due to this careless behavior.”
–IANS
AKS/CBT
