Canada harbouring Khalistani extremists, alleges envoy Sanjay Verma; flays Canada over 'Person of Interest' remark'
PTC Web Desk: Senior Indian diplomat Sanjay Verma expressed shock and dismay on Thursday after being declared a "person of interest" by Canada in the murder investigation of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Sanjay Verma described Canada's action as a "kind of backstabbing" and flayed the country for providing refuge to Khalistani terrorists and extremists.
His comments come amid escalating tensions between India and Canada, following the expulsion of several diplomats on both sides.
In an interview with a new agency, Verma was reported as saying that declaring him a 'person of interest' by Canada came as a shock, a kind of back-stabbing. He lambasted Canada’s approach to bilateral relations as "the most unprofessional" he had encountered, adding, "This is the pits."
Verma accused Canada of harbouring Khalistani extremists who were allegedly involved in illegal activities such as human trafficking, gun smuggling, and extortion. He said only a small faction of about 10,000 Sikhs in Canada were hardline Khalistanis, exploiting the movement for personal gain.
Recalling the moment he was informed of his status, Verma said he was approached by Canadian officials during a visit to Toronto and asked to waive his diplomatic immunity to be questioned by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). "I took that as a message, and we sent it back home to seek advice on what to do," he explained.
The ongoing diplomatic spat was sparked by Canada's accusation that Indian agents were involved in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder in 2023, allegations New Delhi has firmly rejected as "absurd and motivated." India has repeatedly stated that Canada has failed to provide any substantive evidence to support its claims.
Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted that his government had only shared intelligence with India, not concrete evidence. "We have never done anything covert, and Canada has not shared a shred of evidence," Verma reiterated.
- With inputs from agencies
