India has fiercely dismissed Canada’s claims that Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is a “person of interest” in a murder investigation, calling the accusations “preposterous imputations.” In a strongly-worded statement, the Indian government accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration of using such claims as part of a political strategy aimed at gaining favor with specific vote banks.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded angrily to the latest diplomatic communication from Canada, which suggested that High Commissioner Verma was implicated in the ongoing probe. “The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” read the statement from the MEA.
Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada have been strained since June 2023, when Prime Minister Trudeau accused “agents” of the Indian government of being involved in the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar. Nijjar, a known advocate of the Khalistan movement, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia.
India, however, emphasized that Canada has failed to provide any credible evidence to support its accusations against Indian officials. “Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts,” said the MEA. The statement added that it appears to be part of a deliberate strategy by Canada to malign India’s reputation for political gain.
The Indian government also defended High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, highlighting his long and distinguished diplomatic career. “High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is India’s senior most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years. He has been Ambassador in Japan and Sudan, while also serving in Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam, and China. The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt,” the statement continued.
India’s rejection of these claims marks the latest episode in escalating tensions between the two nations, with both sides engaging in diplomatic tit-for-tat actions over the past few months. The Indian government continues to demand that Canada provide tangible evidence to substantiate its claims. Meanwhile, the Trudeau administration has faced increasing pressure domestically and internationally to address the strained relations with India.
As diplomatic relations remain fraught, the two governments appear locked in a standoff that shows no signs of abating.
