Canadian diplomats were misusing their powers in different consulates across Chandigarh and other areas of Punjab, News18 reported citing top government sources. According to the report, Canadian diplomats were “very soft” in their approach and deliberately granted visas to individuals who had known criminal antecedents and supported the Khalistani terrorist movement. They extended visas to them to bolster support for the Khalistani cause.
Sources said, “On multiple occasions, Canadians went very soft with the visa process. Visas were also given deliberately to send certain individuals, who were under probe and were likely to face action from agencies, to Canada”.
“They granted visas to people despite knowing their antecedents. Many people who have got such visas are indulging in criminal activities in Canada. These visas were given just to support the Khalistani cause so that the movement can gain maximum strength,” government sources added as quoted by News18.
The Indian government reportedly has evidence of how the Canadian government supported farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws. They added that it was one of the topics where they (referring to the Canadian side) got involved directly and indirectly and instigated the diaspora in Canada and farmers in India.
They noted, “By instigating the diaspora, they managed funding for the agitation in India. It looked absolutely legitimate, but if we look at funds, which were regular to a family, suddenly multiplied ten to twenty times.”
They added, “Their (Canadian diplomats) meetings with the Punjab government offices were regular and unwarranted. On certain occasions, some individuals also debriefed agencies formally and informally about the intent of Canadian officials.”
The sources stressed that India asked the Canadian government to withdraw 41 of its diplomats after a lot of deliberation and examination of the evidence presented by the Indian intelligence agencies and on-ground action.
According to them, Canada had also been refusing to help India with extradition in certain cases. Additionally, it was not helping India to investigate those individuals who had gone and taken shelter in Canada.
It is important to note that on 22nd October, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar pointed out that India has evidence of continuous inference by the Canadian government in India’s affairs. Regarding Canadian diplomatic interference in Indian affairs, he noted that a significant amount of the information hasn’t been shared with the public yet. According to him, more details could come up over a period of time which would make the public understand why India had to take those steps.
Minister Jaishankar said, “We haven’t made much of that public. My sense is over a period of time more stuff will come out and people will understand why we had the kind of discomfort with many of them which we did.”
He explained why India sought parity in the presence of diplomatic staff. India invoked parity because there were concerns about “continuous interference” by the Canadian personnel in Indian affairs, Minister Jaishankar emphasised.
He further stressed that seeking parity is permitted under the Vienna Convention and refuted the baseless allegations of the Canadian Foreign Minister who alleged that India violated International laws by asking it to reduce its diplomatic presence in India.
Jaishankar noted, “Parity is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this. In our case, we invoked parity because we had concerns about continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel.”
