What are Canada’s allegations against Amit Shah?
New Delhi: India said on Saturday it had summoned a representative of the Canadian High Commission to register a strong protest against Ottawa’s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“We summoned a representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday and he was handed a diplomatic note regarding the meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to be held in Ottawa on October 29, 2024,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“The note expresses the Government of India’s strong objection to the absurd and baseless references made by Deputy Minister David Morrison against the Indian Home Minister before the committee,” Jaiswal added.
“Such irresponsible action will have serious consequences on bilateral relations,” the MEA spokesperson added.
According to a Reuters report, Canada has alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is behind a “plot against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil”.
Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison told a parliamentary committee that he had told The Washington Post that “the Shah is behind the conspiracy.”
On Wednesday, the United States responded to Canada’s allegations against the Shah by saying it was “concerned.”
“The allegations made by the Canadian government are concerning and we continue to engage with the Canadian government about these allegations,” foreign ministry spokesman Matthew Miller said.
India-Canada diplomatic tensions
Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have already deteriorated since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last June blamed Indian officials for their role in the murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Last month, India recalled its high commissioner, Sanjay Verma, after he was named a “person of interest” in Canada’s investigation into Nijjar’s murder.
New Delhi has withdrawn the high commissioner and expelled six Canadian diplomats.