The ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is deepening. India has reacted strongly to Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison’s mention of Home Minister Amit Shah during a parliamentary committee hearing regarding the matter.
India summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission to the Ministry of External Affairs, expressing its outrage. The Ministry handed over a diplomatic note, reiterating that the Trudeau government operates under a political agenda that threatens to undermine relations between the two nations. Indian officials accuse Canada of tarnishing India’s image unnecessarily.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday and handed over a diplomatic note on October 29. India firmly opposes the baseless references made by Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison regarding our Home Minister.”
Jaiswal further claimed that Canadian officials are deliberately disseminating false information to international media to defame India and influence other countries. He warned that such irresponsible actions would have serious consequences on bilateral relations.
Additionally, Jaiswal highlighted that officials of the Indian High Commission in Canada face surveillance, with the Canadian government itself providing information about the monitoring of their communications. He described this as a blatant violation of diplomatic agreements and accused the Canadian government of intimidation and harassment while trying to conceal its actions technically. He noted, “Our diplomats operate in an extremely violent and hostile environment. This step by the Canadian government exacerbates the situation.”
The Trudeau government’s recent move to classify India as a country facing cyber threats further complicates the situation. Canada’s intelligence agency, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), has listed India among five countries it perceives as cyber threats, alongside China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, marking the first time India has appeared on this list.
The CSE accused India of utilizing cyber technology to monitor Khalistani separatists in Canada, claiming that elements supported by the Indian government could conduct activities posing a cyber threat to Canadian governmental networks. In response, Jaiswal remarked, “This appears to be another tactic by Canada to attack India. Senior Canadian officials admit they are attempting to sway global opinion against India while making unsubstantiated allegations. To date, Canada has not provided a single piece of evidence to substantiate its claims.”
India also expressed its disapproval of Canada’s decision to cancel Diwali celebrations. Jaiswal called this situation “very unfortunate,” stating that the current environment in Canada has deteriorated into extremism and intolerance. He raised concerns about the safety of Indian students and professionals residing in Canada.