India recalls High Commissioner amid escalating tensions with Canada

New Delhi: India has taken a more assertive stance against Canada, recalling its High Commissioner from Ottawa. In addition, New Delhi announced plans to bring back other diplomats and officials whom it claims are being targeted.

India said it no longer trusts the Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure the safety and security of its diplomats in Canada.

A statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, “We have no confidence in the current Canadian government’s commitment to protecting Indian diplomats.”

Earlier, Canada’s High Commissioner to India was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Indian government expressed strong objections to what it described as the baseless targeting of Indian diplomats, calling the situation “completely unacceptable.”

This has heightened concerns about the possible deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Canada had sent a diplomatic communication to India, indicating that Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats were being placed under surveillance due to ongoing investigations.

Verma, a senior diplomat with 36 years of service, has held positions in Japan, Italy, Turkey, Vietnam, and China.

India has strongly condemned these actions, with its Ministry of External Affairs calling the allegations against Verma “ridiculous” and “outrageous.”

The Indian government further accused the Trudeau administration of deliberately allowing violent extremists and terrorists in Canada to intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders, including issuing death threats.