In a late-night statement on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed its position after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before a Commission of Inquiry amid a huge diplomatic dispute. The MEA said that the assertions made by Canada only confirm what they have been saying consistently that Canada has provided no evidence related to the serious allegations it made against India and its diplomats.
The Ministry stated, “What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along – Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats.”
It further said, “The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone.”
What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along – Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats. The responsibility for the damage that… pic.twitter.com/9k0ztpFOyA
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said on Wednesday at the Foreign Interference Commission that information regarding the Canadians who are in disagreement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was passed to the Indian government at the ‘highest level’. He linked this revelation to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, further stating that the information was exploited by criminal groups to carry out violence against Canadians.
However, India strongly rejected the claims by the Canadian authorities to link Indian diplomats with criminal gangs in Canada.
While Trudeau himself provided ‘no hard proof’ linking India to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he mentioned reports from his intelligence input.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s remarks come just a few days after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, due to evidence of their involvement in coercive intelligence operations.
In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner in New Delhi.
