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India says Canada has set surveillance on consular workers – Firstpost

Posted on by Josh L
India says Canada has set surveillance on consular workers – Firstpost

Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Canada’s actions were a “gross violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions” and risked worsening relations between the two countries.

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On Saturday, India accused Canada of spying on Indian consular staff and said senior officials in the country were “functioning in an environment of extremism and violence”.

“Some of our consular officials have recently been informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their correspondence was also intercepted,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

He said Canada’s actions were a “gross violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions” and that they risked worsening relations between the two countries.

“By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it condones harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular staff already work in an environment of extremism and violence. This action by the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and practices,” Jaiswal added.

Relations between India and Canada soured after New Delhi recalled its high commissioner in Ottawa. The relationship suffered a setback after Canada accused India of killing its citizen and Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijar, a charge strongly denied by India. New Delhi, on the other hand, criticized the country for making “baseless” allegations without any evidence.

About the allegations against Amit Shah

India has expressed its strongest protest against a Canadian minister’s reference to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and such “absurd and baseless” allegations will have serious ramifications for bilateral ties between the two countries, the external affairs minister said.

The comments came after Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison said on Tuesday that Shah had ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence gathering against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Morrison also told members of Canada’s national security committee that he had confirmed Shah’s name to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations.

Jaiswal said this revelation that senior Canadian government officials deliberately leaked unsubstantiated insinuations to the international media as part of a deliberate strategy to discredit India and influence other countries only confirms the view the Indian government has long held about the current Canadian government’s policy agenda and behavior . .

With the help of agencies