India calls Canadian accusations absurd amid ongoing diplomatic tensions, labeling it as Justin Trudeau's 'Vote Bank Politics'

India criticized Canada's diplomatic statement on Oct 14, labeling the claims made about the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats being "persons of interest" in a case in the nation as "preposterous imputations."

The accusations were attributed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's vote-bank politics and political agenda, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said harshly.

"We received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country,” said the MEA in the statement.

“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," it added.

Indian authorities are alleged to have played a role in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, by Canada. India has vehemently denied the charge and demanded proof to support the serious accusations.

New Delhi said that Justin Trudeau's antagonism towards India has been widely recognized for some time.

"Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favor with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India," it said.

"His naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard. That his government was dependent on a political party whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India only aggravated matters. Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage,” it added.

“This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains," it continued.

Regarding Canada's Nijjar accusations, the MEA said the country has not provided New Delhi with any proof. It claimed that the Canadian government was smearing India under the guise of an investigation.

"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,” said MEA.

“This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that, on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains," it added.

In the statement, New Delhi claimed that terrorists were being given room in Canada by the Trudeau administration to threaten and harass Indian officials.

"To that end, the Trudeau government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten, and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada. This has included death threats to them and Indian leaders. All these activities have been justified in the name of freedom of speech," MEA said.

The allegations made against High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, according to MEA, are absurd and should be viewed with contempt.

"The Government of India has taken cognizance of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India that serve the political agenda of the current regime,” MEA added.

It continued, “This led to the implementation of the principle of reciprocity regarding diplomatic representation. India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian Government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats.”