The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sharply criticized Canada for reportedly placing Indian diplomats under surveillance, describing the action as “totally unacceptable.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue at a press briefing on Thursday, expressing India’s growing concerns over the safety of its diplomatic staff in Canada amid increasing threats, harassment, and instances of intimidation.
“Indian diplomats are being put under surveillance, which is totally unacceptable,” Jaiswal said. He confirmed that India has raised the matter forcefully with Canadian officials. “Over the past year, we have seen various incidents targeting Indian diplomats, threatening, intimidating, and harassing them. These threats have only increased recently,” he added.
Jaiswal also highlighted Canada’s failure to provide security for Indian consular staff at a planned consular camp, despite repeated requests for protection. “We requested security for our diplomats where the consular camp was to be held, but the Canadian side has not met this request,” Jaiswal added.
This development comes amid heightened tensions between India and Canada following Canadian accusations linking Indian agents to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The two countries have witnessed a series of diplomatic confrontations, with India dismissing the allegations as baseless and absurd.
In recent years, Canada has seen a surge in Khalistani extremist activities, marked by violent protests and attacks on Hindu temples. Just last Sunday, an Indian consular camp at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha Temple near Toronto was violently disrupted, sparking widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on Monday, labeling it a “cowardly attempt to intimidate” Indian diplomats and urging Canadian authorities to ensure justice and the rule of law.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, currently in Australia, also voiced concerns over the Brampton attack. During a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Jaishankar underscored India’s deep concern over the rising influence of extremist forces in Canada, noting that “political space” seems to be provided to such elements in the country.
India’s grievances with Canada have escalated in recent weeks, culminating in a diplomatic note handed to the Canadian High Commission representative. This note strongly protested Deputy Minister David Morrison’s recent “absurd and baseless” remarks regarding India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Ottawa’s Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
(Inputs from ANI)
