Canada expels six Indian diplomats
“Compelling evidence” of India's involvement in threats to public safety: Trudeau
Ottawa: In a major escalation of diplomatic row, Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats after police collected evidence that as Indian government agents’ they were involved in activities threatening public safety in Canada.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Canadian police said on Monday that it has significant amount of information on criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Indian government.
The investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada are leveraging their official position to engage in “clandestine activities”, the police force Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.
The Indian government has been collecting information through its officials in Canada and this information is then used by the Indian government to target members of the south Asian community, RCMP said.
In a bid to avoid further embarrassment, India withdrew its high commissioner and other diplomats from Canada.
Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) uncovered “clear and compelling evidence” that Indian government agents had engaged in activities that threaten public safety in Canada.
The announcements came hours after India said it was withdrawing its top envoy to Ottawa and other diplomats because the Canadian government was investigating them as “persons of interest” in a probe.
“This includes clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder,” Trudeau said during a news conference.
“The evidence brought to light by the RCMP cannot be ignored. It leads to one conclusion: It is necessary to disrupt the criminal activities that continue to pose a threat to public safety in Canada,” the prime minister added.
