“I consider this to be hate speech and incitement to violence,” said Sanjay Kumar Verma.
Ottawa:
India’s High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma reiterated New Delhi’s stance in the diplomatic standoff with Canada and called on Ottawa to provide evidence to support its claim regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Indian envoy made the comments in an interview with the Canadian platform The Globe and Mail on Friday.
This came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of Nijjar in June.
India had rejected the allegations as “absurd and motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat to address Canada’s decision.
Mr. Verma stressed that no concrete evidence has been provided to India by Canada or its allies of India’s alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar.
He also noted that Canadian police’s ongoing investigation into the killing had been “damaged” by Prime Minister Trudeau’s public comments.
“In this case, we do not have any specific or relevant information to help us in the investigation,” Mr Verma said.
“Where is the evidence? Where are the conclusions of the investigation? I would go one step further and say that the investigation is already tainted. An instruction has come from someone at a high level that India or Indian agents are behind this.” The Globe and Mail quoted him as saying.
India resumed visa services in Canada for four categories after suspending services in September until “further notice” due to strained relations.
Last month, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi expressed concern about parity in diplomatic strength.
Ottawa also suspended its visa and consular services at the Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru consulates
While Mr. Verma flatly denied India’s role in the killing, he said that all conversations between diplomats were “protected and cannot be used as evidence in court or released publicly.”
“You’re talking about illegal wiretapping and evidence. Conversations between two diplomats are protected under international law,” he said. “Show me how you started these conversations. Show me someone didn’t imitate the voice.”
Asked whether Ottawa had asked India to extradite anyone who may have been involved in Nijjar’s killing, Mr Verma said: “These discussions are taking place between the two governments.”
The Indian envoy also noted that New Delhi has made 26 requests to Ottawa in the last five or six years to extradite people from Canada to India. “We are still waiting for action,” he said.
The High Commissioner also said that he received security from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as a result of the threats against him.
“I consider this to be hate speech and incitement to violence,” Mr. Verma said.
He added: “I am worried about my safety. I am concerned about the safety of my consul generals. God forbid if something happens.”
Asked what New Delhi believes is necessary to restore diplomatic ties, the Indian envoy said both sides need to ensure that any disputes are resolved “through professional communication and professional dialogue.”
However, he added that India expects Canada to “contain the Khalistanites.”
Referring to Nijjar’s killing, he said: “Let the investigation take its course,” but added that Canada also needs to address the “core issue.”
“Don’t allow your soil to be used by a group of Canadian citizens who want to dismember India,” he said. “Who want to question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.”
“There must be some rules and laws,” Mr Verma added.
Meanwhile, a new poll by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail suggests that most Canadians want Canada to release the evidence that led Trudeau to accuse India of being behind Nijjar’s killing.
It found that seven in 10 respondents agreed or somewhat agreed that Ottawa should disclose all the evidence it has. Two in ten either disagreed or somewhat disagreed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)