Diplomatic standoff between India and Canada: Government alleges surveillance, harassment and intimidation of officials in Canada

Against the background of the diplomatic crisis between India and Canada are getting worse On Saturday, the government accused Ottawa of surveilling the country’s consular staff.

Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said Canada had installed audio and video surveillance on Indian officials and was “harassing and intimidating” them by resorting to such measures.

“The Canadian government recently notified some of our consular staff that they were and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communication was also intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we consider these actions to be in gross violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” Jaiswal told reporters at a press conference in Delhi on Saturday, adding that such actions make it difficult to establish diplomatic norms and practices.

“By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it condones harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular staff are already working in an environment of extremism and violence,” Jaiswal added.

The a permanent diplomatic confrontation arose from a Canadian government statement last month saying that Indian diplomats in Ottawa were “persons of interest” in its investigation into the September 2023 killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijar.

After killing Nijar, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that certain Indian agents were involved in the assassination, a charge strongly denied by the Indian government.

This is evidenced by a statement from the Canadian government last month India recalls its high commissioner in Ottawa and other targeted diplomats. The Canadian government then expelled six diplomats, prompting India to reciprocate the move.

Since then, the two countries have been engaged in a war of words and a series of accusations and counter-accusations, and there are no signs that tensions will ease anytime soon.