Mon Oct 14 18:02:52 UTC 2024: ## India Recalls Diplomats from Canada, Accuses Trudeau of “Political Agenda”
**New Delhi:** In a dramatic escalation of tensions, India has recalled 41 diplomats from Canada, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of “playing vote-bank politics” and attempting to “smear” India through “false allegations.”
The move follows a strongly worded statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which condemned Canada’s “condemnable practice” of providing safe haven to “extremist and separatist elements” operating against India on Canadian soil.
The MEA’s statement specifically cited Canada’s failure to act against Khalistani extremists and accused Trudeau’s government of being complicit in their activities. The statement also pointed out that Canada, despite India’s repeated requests, has failed to provide any evidence to substantiate its allegations that Indian agents were involved in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2022.
“India has consistently raised concerns about the activities of extremist and separatist elements operating from Canada, who seek to undermine India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the MEA statement said. “It is unfortunate that Canada continues to provide a safe haven to these elements and fails to take effective action against them.”
The diplomatic row began after Canada accused India of being involved in Nijjar’s assassination, which India vehemently denied. The Indian government has also expressed concerns about the increasing instances of Khalistani propaganda and activities in Canada, including the display of Khalistani flags at public events and protests against Indian diplomats.
India’s decision to recall its diplomats has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community. It is seen as a significant escalation of the ongoing dispute, with the potential to further strain bilateral relations between the two countries.
The MEA’s statement also hinted at potential further action, stating that India reserves the right to take “further steps” to protect its diplomats and interests. This raises concerns about the future trajectory of Indo-Canadian relations, which have been strained for some time.
Analysts believe that the current crisis is likely to have a long-lasting impact on the two countries’ relations, with the potential to affect economic and security cooperation. The international community is closely watching the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
First Piper 