India has firmly rejected a fabricated document that falsely links its diplomats to violent crimes abroad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement denouncing the so-called memo that has been circulating on social media.
The document, which was supposedly marked as a confidential government directive, has been completely debunked by the MEA. The ministry made it clear that the document was entirely false and part of a disinformation campaign aimed at misleading the public.
According to the MEA’s External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division, no such memo has ever been issued by the Indian government. The memo, which is allegedly from former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and dated April 2023, accuses Indian diplomats of working with diaspora groups in Canada to target Sikh extremist elements. The ministry has strongly rejected these claims, emphasising that they have no basis in truth.
This fake document comes at a time when relations between India and Canada are already under strain. Diplomatic ties have been deeply affected, particularly after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, in June of the previous year. Canada has accused India of being involved in Nijjar’s death, an allegation that India has vehemently denied, calling it politically motivated.
Amid these tensions, India has raised concerns about the surveillance of its diplomats in Canada. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed these concerns at a weekly press briefing, describing the surveillance as “totally unacceptable.”
He pointed out that Indian diplomats in Canada have faced rising threats, intimidation, and harassment over the past year. Jaiswal also stated that India had requested better security measures for its diplomats during consular events, but these requests had not been fully addressed by Canadian authorities.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has raised the issue directly with the Canadian government, urging them to provide better protection for Indian officials. Despite these concerns, the threats against Indian diplomats in Canada have continued to escalate. The government of India has consistently called for stronger security arrangements to safeguard its personnel abroad.
The situation grew more tense following an attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario. The Indian government condemned the attack in the strongest terms and urged Canada to take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
During the press briefing, Jaiswal called on the Canadian government to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that those responsible for the attack are held accountable.
These recent developments reflect the increasingly complicated relationship between India and Canada. Allegations, strained diplomatic ties, and a lack of protection for Indian diplomats have all contributed to a growing sense of mistrust between the two nations.
The MEA’s strong response to the fabricated memo and its emphasis on protecting Indian diplomats highlight the urgency of addressing these issues in a diplomatic manner.
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