New Delhi: In what could be one of the lowest points in relations between the two countries, India on Monday evening decided to withdraw its High Commissioner and “other targeted diplomats and officials” from Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s continued “hostility” towards the country.
The decision was conveyed to Canadian Chargé d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler who was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) in New Delhi and informed that the “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.
“It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety. We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” read the statement.
“It was also conveyed that India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau Government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India,” it added.
Earlier in the day, India had issued a strongly-worded statement, calling the diplomatic communication received from Canada on Sunday – suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country – as “preposterous imputations”.
India withdraws its envoy from Canada
