On Saturday 2 November, India summoned an official from the Canadian High Commission, to express its strong objections on allegations made against the Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah. The Canadian officials had accused India’s Home Minister of conducting attacks on Khalistanis based in Canada.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal in a press briefing stated, that India has strongly rejected the ‘absurd and baseless’ allegations made against Amit Shah by the Canadian Deputy Minister David Morrison during a committee session.

The strong reaction was to the October 29 allegations where Morrison before the Canadian Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, referenced Amit Shah as the official behind the attacks on Khalistanis in Canada.

Morrison had also told the Canadian Parliament members, that he had confirmed Amit Shah’s name to the publication ‘The Washington Post’, which first reported the allegations.

MEA spokesperson Jaiswal announced that India had now summoned a representative from the Canadian High Commission and delivered a Diplomatic Note to express “the strongest terms of protest”.

He also went on to accuse the Canadian officials of deliberately spreading unsubstantiated claims to the international media to undermine India’s standing. “The revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations only confirms the view Government of India has long held about the current Canadian Government’s political agenda,” Jaiswal stated.

The note to Canada emphasized, that such allegations could have “serious consequences for bilateral ties”. The spokesperson called the accusations not just irresponsible, but indicative of a calculated strategy to tarnish India’s image, signalling that continued behaviour of this nature would not be tolerated.

Spying on Indian Officials

Jaiswal revealed that some of India’s consular officials in Canada continue to be under audio and video surveillance.

“Our Consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian Government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian Government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions.”

“By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence.” he said.

“This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices.”

The spying allegations come at the back of shocking revelations from Indian ambassador Sanjay Verma, who recalled how he had been under physical threat in Canada. Verma and other officials were marked as “persons of interest” by Canada, in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, putting their safety in peril.

India had proceeded to recall its officials in a tit for tat move, as Canada and Justin Trudeau continue to escalate the tensions with baseless allegations. This time targetting the Union Minister of Home, Amit Shah.