Sanjay Verma, Indian Ambassador to Canada
– Photo: ANI
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Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, who was recalled to Canada amid strained relations between India and Canada, alleged that Khalistani extremists and terrorists are spies of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In an interview given to CTV News, Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma has also accused the Canadian government of encouraging Khalistani extremists.
'Khalistani extremists are being encouraged'
The Indian Ambassador said, Khalistani extremists are being encouraged all the time. This is my allegation, I also know that some of these Khalistani extremists and terrorists are CSIS spies, again I am not providing any evidence. Sanjay Kumar Verma further said that the Canadian government should take our main concerns seriously. He said, all we want is that the current Canadian regime, the current government sincerely understands our core concerns and not work together with those who are trying to challenge Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity. What happens in India will be decided by Indian citizens.
Denied allegations in Nijjar's murder case
He further said, these Khalistani extremists are not Indian citizens, they are Canadian citizens and no country should allow its citizens to challenge the sovereignty of another country. The Indian Ambassador also denied all allegations made against him by Ottawa in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Sanjay Verma confirmed, no evidence was presented in this case, all this is politically motivated. I want to see what concrete evidence she (Foreign Minister Melanie Joy) is talking about. He said, as far as I am concerned, she is talking politically.
Responded to Canada's allegations
Ambassador Sanjay Verma also denied allegations of instructing or forcing individuals to collect information about pro-Khalistani activists, including Nijjar. He said, as High Commissioner of India, I never did anything like this. He said that monitoring pro-Khalistani elements in Canada is a matter of national interest and his team collects information from open sources. During this, Sanjay Verma clarified, we read newspapers, we read their statements, because we understand Punjabi, so we read their social media posts and try to guess from there.
The Indian Ambassador's statement comes days after Canada designated the High Commissioner and five other Indian diplomats as 'persons of interest' in the murder of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar, following which India has imposed stringent measures. Condemned and recalled six diplomats including Sanjay Verma.
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