A fresh dispute has emerged in the diplomatic relations between India and Canada. Recently, the Indian government informed Parliament that Indian diplomats in Canada are being subjected to audio and video surveillance, with their private conversations also being interfered with. This development could escalate the already tense relationship between the two countries.
The central government provided this information through Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, who stated in the Rajya Sabha, “The Canadian government has informed the officials of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver that their audio and video surveillance is being carried out.” According to the minister, this step is a matter of concern for bilateral relations, as it involves one country violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other.
The rift between India and Canada deepened when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the murder of Khalistani supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India accused Trudeau’s government of supporting Khalistani extremists, further straining the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Nijjar, the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, in June 2023. Indian security agencies had declared Nijjar a terrorist, and he was facing several cases, including involvement in a 2010 bombing in Patiala.
The surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada has become a new headache for Indian security and diplomats. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs may plan appropriate action against Canada in this matter, and the likelihood of further discussions and diplomatic tensions between the two countries seems high.
