India has called out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government for having failed to present any specific evidence linking Indian "agents" to criminal activities in Canada despite repeated public statements against New Delhi.
“Same old Trudeau saying the same old things for the same old reasons,” sources characterised Trudeau’s press conference on Monday.
“Same old Trudeau saying the same old things for the same old reasons,” sources characterised Trudeau’s press conference on Monday.
Sources completely rejected the charges made by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme during a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, where he claimed that Canadian investigators were probing around 10 cases linking Indian “agents” to homicides, extortion and harassment against pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada. Duheme said that a "distinct investigation" into the killing of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also ongoing.
"At the Royal Canadian Mounted Police press briefing, assertions were made about connections of certain individuals to India. In no case were any specifics provided. There was also talk about holding people accountable. But it was never made clear who and for what," Indian sources stated.
Further, they categorically rejected the allegations made by Canada’s Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler during a press conference on Monday evening, after being summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) headquarter in New Delhi.
“This is simply not true. From the very beginning, the Canadian approach has been to make vague accusations and put the burden of denial on India,” sources said.
Wheeler and five other Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave New Delhi by 11:59 PM on Saturday after New Delhi invoked the “principle of reciprocity” following the withdrawal of Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Verma.
India has “no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment” to ensure Indian diplomats’ security following repeated threats from pro-Khalistan extremists and Ottawa, Wheeler has been told by the MEA. It has directly blamed Trudeau for endangering the safety of Indian diplomats by seeking them to make part of a Canadian probe.
Commenting on this, sources highlighted the absurdity of Canada targeting the Indian High Commissioner after “intensively engaging” with him for a year.