New Delhi [India], October 15 : Amid the ongoing dispute between India and Canada, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri expressed disbelief that, in the name of freedom of expression, anyone would be allowed to issue threats to Indian representatives in Canada.
Speaking at an event in the national capital on Tuesday, Puri recalled the 1984 assassination of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in the UK, emphasising that the safety of any representative should be a concern for all governments. He noted that the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had filled him with pride.
Puri further stated that the Canadian government would come to understand India's stance when India begins to calibrate its responses.
"Any representative should be a matter of concern for all governments, and I speak in my personal capacity. I remember the Mhatre case--I was serving in that country in its aftermath. I've also witnessed other threats to people representing India, and I have personally been on the receiving end. It is incomprehensible that, under the guise of freedom of expression, a photograph of a head of mission is shared on social media, depicting individuals firing plastic bullets or actual bullets. It's symbolic. Our responses to such actions have been exemplary. They (Canada) will realise it when we start adjusting our response. The MEA statement filled me with pride... I don't want to comment further as the MEA's statement explains a lot," Puri said.
Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a parliamentary address last year, claimed to have "credible allegations" of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Surrey in June last year.
Earlier today, top sources dismissed claims made by Prime Minister Trudeau and other officials regarding the presentation of "credible evidence" to India about Nijjar's killing. Sources noted that Canada's approach has been to make "vague accusations" and place the burden of denial on India.
On Monday, India expelled six Canadian diplomats just hours after summoning Canada's Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, and conveying that the "baseless targeting" of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats in Canada was completely unacceptable.
This followed Canada's expulsion of six Indian diplomats after police reportedly gathered evidence that they were involved in an Indian government "campaign of violence," according to a Canadian government source cited by Reuters.
The MEA on Monday also "strongly" rejected a diplomatic note from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were "persons of interest" in an investigation, calling it a "preposterous imputation" and part of Prime Minister Trudeau's political agenda.
In a stern statement, India said that Trudeau's hostility towards India has long been evident, and his government has deliberately provided space for violent extremists and terrorists "to harass, threaten, and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada."