New Delhi:
India's High Commissioner to Canada, who was targeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and later recalled to New Delhi, was today told that he was being “tested for evidence” by Canadian authorities, who have designated him and five other diplomats as “persons of interest.” Not a single bit has been shared,” he reiterated. In the murder investigation of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Verma, who spoke exclusively to NDTV in his first interview since returning to India, said it was actually India that was sharing detailed evidence of extremist groups operating in Canada with Justin Trudeau's government. “No action was taken,” he said. It is by the government or authorities.
“Besides the evidence shared with Canada, New Delhi repeatedly sent extradition requests for 26 extremist elements and gangsters through the High Commission, but the police did nothing about it,” he said. , added that this was a total “double standard”. According to Canada, “It's no longer true in the world that one law applies to you and another law applies to me. Countries in the Global South used to do as the developed world told them.'' But that's no longer the case 'back then,' he said.
sudden event
In his final meeting with Canadian authorities, he was told that he and five other colleagues were now designated as “persons of interest” in the murder investigation and that “we should ask the Canadian authorities.” He revealed that he was surprised when he said that. The Indian government should revoke its diplomatic immunity. ”
“During my tenure[as Canadian High Commissioner]relations with all departments and interlocutors were very cordial, but on October 12th, at a meeting with the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, six of us suddenly We were informed that we were involved in a murder investigation and that our diplomatic immunity would need to be lifted in order for them to question us.
“This has gone too far,” he told NDTV, adding that he had conveyed this to New Delhi, which had decided to recall him and other diplomats.
“Declared Persona Non Grata”
“When the Indian government withdrew us, they (Canadian government) decided to label us 'persona non grata' and send us packed within a given deadline.”
In India's diplomatic history, this is when officials and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were labeled as “persona non grata” (in diplomacy, it means a person who is no longer welcome if the person concerned is not recalled from their home country). It's my first time. If requested, the host state may refuse to recognize the person as part of the diplomatic mission, which would mean the person's immunity ends.
Although Canada is considered a friend of India, “even in the case of Pakistan, where we have had disagreements for decades, the last High Commissioner to be recalled to New Delhi and my predecessor in Canada Mr. Ajay Visaria remained a country friendly to India.''Although the High Commissioner was recalled and stopped residing in Pakistan, he remained the then High Commissioner of Pakistan. ”
“Prime Minister Trudeau's claims will not stand up in court.''
“Not even a shred of evidence has been shared with us (India). If they call claims based on information and sources 'evidence', it won't hold up in court. Even in their country we… It won't hold up in court in any country,'' Verma said.
What the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said, and what Prime Minister Trudeau also said during his deposition with the Foreign Interference Tribunal of Inquiry, we have no proof or evidence of, and are based on information provided by sources. It was said that he had. hearsay.
“That's very interesting,” Verma said, adding, “What they did was actually quite serious. As far as I understand, most of what they call evidence is just hearsay and based on sources. “This is a strong argument, and we must not forget the following.” There are many people out there who prey on Indians who are ready to make false statements against India and Indians, in which case they could be considered a single source. ”
Information gathering – Diplomat's job
Gathering information is an important job for diplomats. On this, Verma said, “Let me explain this in detail. There are two ways diplomats collect information: overtly through open sources and covertly. I will check with you.” said. Here, yes, we relied on information obtained through open source, that is, overt methods. ”
“We collect information about banned organizations, radicals, extremists, etc. from information available through the news and social media. “We conducted an analysis based on this,” he explained.
“And the trends that we saw in the analysis that we did were very clear. They want to sabotage and destroy the Canada-India relationship. They want India's image to be defamed internationally. I hope that.”
“Justin Trudeau is personally involved.”
“One thing that is very publicly seen and known is that Mr. Trudeau himself is known to be very close politically to Khalistan extremists and terrorists, especially in his cabinet. “Some of his closest friends, through his inner circle on both sides of the Canadian Parliament, are not very inclined towards good relations between Canada and India,” Verma said.
“I don't want to comment on Canadian domestic politics, but what I've seen and heard and read in the media is that his party is not doing well. The polls are not in his favor, and most of all, Mr. Trudeau. 's leadership is also under threat within the party,'' Verma added.
“Khalistani militants are a business”
Explaining how Khalistan separatism works, Verma said, “This is a business because the money these extremists and radicals raise through extortion and other illegal means destabilizes India and at the same time defunds India.'' “It will be used in our ongoing efforts to provide the best possible results.” their personal and luxurious lifestyle. ”
“So if I present evidence of their illegal activities and try to shut down their business, I become a target for them. This is what we saw when we threatened and targeted them,” Verma emphasized.
He went on to say that it was not just diplomats, saying, “Our Prime Minister and Home Minister have been threatened and our diplomats have been targeted. Other examples include portraits of Indian diplomats, including myself, being painted with Ravana. I've had my face cut off,” he said. Shooting practice targets, and a few other examples. ”
“I don't think anything like this would ever happen so openly in any civil society,” he said, and with government support.
The diplomat added: “If you show a bullet-ridden portrait of the former prime minister of your ally, the largest democracy, alongside an image of her assassination, and publicly support it, that's a violation of speech.'' It's not freedom, it's hate speech.” . ”
