India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has condemned the allegations made against India regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a recent statement, Verma labeled these allegations as “hate speech” and an “incitement to violence.” He urged the Canadian government to provide concrete evidence to support its claims and questioned the integrity of the ongoing police investigation into the killing.
Verma criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making public statements that have “tainted” the investigation. He suggested that these statements indicate a high-level direction to accuse India without proper evidence. India had previously rejected these allegations as “absurd and motivated” and responded by expelling a Canadian diplomat.
Visa services between India and Canada have recently resumed after being halted in September. This suspension occurred when Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India due to concerns over diplomatic parity. Additionally, Canadian visa and consular services were halted in Indian consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Verma emphasized that conversations between diplomats are protected by international law and cannot be used as evidence. He also mentioned that India has made 26 extradition requests to Canada over the past few years and is still waiting for action.
Expressing concerns over his own safety and the safety of his consul generals, Verma revealed that he has been provided with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) security. He emphasized the need for professional communication and dialogue to repair diplomatic relations and expects Canada to address the issue of Khalistan supporters.
A recent poll conducted by Nanos Research indicates that most Canadians want the government to make public the evidence supporting Trudeau’s accusations against India. This suggests a keen interest among the Canadian population to have transparency regarding the allegations.
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