New Delhi: The Government of India has issued a strong rebuttal to diplomatic communications from Canada, which suggested that Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats are “persons of interest” in a Canadian investigation. 

In a statement released on Sunday, the Indian government described these claims as “preposterous” and ascribed them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centred around vote bank politics. 

This latest diplomatic spat follows allegations made by Trudeau in September 2023, which have not been substantiated with any evidence despite repeated requests from India. The Indian government views this ongoing situation as part of a deliberate strategy to undermine India's reputation for political gain within Canada.

“Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility towards India has been evident for years,” the statement noted, recalling Trudeau's controversial 2018 visit to India, which was perceived as an attempt to secure votes from certain communities in Canada. 

"Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his Government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage. This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains," the statement said.

The Indian government has criticized Trudeau's Cabinet for including individuals associated with extremist and separatist agendas against India and highlighted his government’s failure to address foreign interference in Canadian politics.

"High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma is India’s senior most serving diplomat with a distinguished career spanning 36 years. He has been Ambassador in Japan and Sudan, while also serving in Italy, Turkiye, Vietnam and China. The aspersions cast on him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt," MEA said.