The Foreign Ministry said such actions, if continued, would have a “seriously damaging” impact on bilateral relations.
Comments by leaders and other members of the Canadian government on the current farmers’ unrest is “unacceptable interference” in Indian affairs, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. This message was relayed to the Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel by high-level Indian diplomats after he was formally summoned to the ministry and delivered a request in this regard.
“The High Commissioner of Canada was informed that the comments of the Canadian Prime Minister, some Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament on issues related to Indian farmers constitute unacceptable interference in our internal affairs. Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on the ties between India and Canada, “the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that summarized the content of the management issued to the Canadian High Commissioner.
Also read: AAP, Shiv Sena oppose Justin Trudeau’s comments on farmers’ protest
Friday’s comment is harsher compared to the previous official statement issued on December 1, when India avoided appointing Canada’s prime minister even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had raised concerns about the condition of farmers in his Gurupurav’s message.
Trudeau’s coalition partner Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party has made several public comments about the farmers’ unrest. In his message, he praised the farmers saying they oppose “privatization”. “As millions of farmers walk to the Indian capital, they walk in this (Guru Nanak) spirit,” Singh had said on November 30. Another MP, Jack Harris, had criticized India’s handling of the protests and said “We are shocked” during the police action against farmers.
The MEA’s December 1 statement had limited itself to describing the Canadian messages as “misinformed.” However, Friday’s management says comments by Canadian authorities “have encouraged meetings of extremist activities in front of our High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise security issues.”
The agitation of farmers in India has found a strong echo among the Indo-Canadian community, many of whom hailed from the plains of North India. Several Canadian cities have witnessed protests and rallies by Indo-Canadians against police action on farmers near Delhi.
“We hope that the Canadian government will guarantee maximum security for Indian diplomatic personnel and their political leaders will refrain from pronouncements that legitimize extremist activism,” the MEA said in its statement.
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