India announced on Monday that it will withdraw its high commissioner and other diplomats from Canada, in response to Ottawa’s attempt to link them to an investigation into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made the announcement following a meeting with Canada’s chargé d’affaires, who was summoned to discuss the matter.
In a statement, the MEA said, “The Canadian chargé d’affaires was summoned this evening by the Secretary (East). He was informed that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats in Canada is completely unacceptable.”
The ministry expressed concerns over the safety of its diplomats in light of what it described as an “atmosphere of extremism and violence” in Canada, holding the Trudeau government responsible for endangering their security. “We have no faith in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring their safety,” the statement read.
As a result, India has made the decision to withdraw its high commissioner and other diplomats who have been targeted by the Canadian authorities. The MEA further warned that India “reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence, and separatism against India.”
The foreign ministry’s action followed the Centre’s condemnation of Canada’s decision to investigate the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as “persons of interest” likely in connection with the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist.
Earlier today, India strongly rejected Trudeau’s allegations against its diplomats, calling them “baseless” and politically motivated. The MEA accused Trudeau of using anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains, citing his past association with separatist elements.
“The government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau government that is centred around vote bank politics,” the MEA said in a statement.
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