Government Denounces Fake Memo Linking Indian Diplomats to Violence

Social Issues Social Inequalities and exclusion

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-16 12:35:21 |

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A fabricated memo claiming to instruct Indian diplomats to "cultivate" Indian diaspora groups in Canada for street confrontations with Sikh extremists has been declared fake by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA on Friday dismissed as fake a purported "secret memo" circulating on social media that falsely links Indian diplomats abroad to violent activities. "No such memo has been issued by the Government of India," the ministry stated. The External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division (XP Division) of the MEA affirmed, "The said GoI communication is fake."

The fraudulent document, dated April 2023 and attributed to former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, claims to direct Indian diplomats to mobilize diaspora groups such as the Indo-Canada Association (ICA), Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), TiE Silicon Valley (TiE SV), and USIBC as key players in confronting Sikh extremists.

This development comes amid ongoing tensions between India and Canada, exacerbated by India's accusations that Canada provides safe haven to Khalistani separatists. Last week, violence erupted at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, prompting India to condemn the incident and urge Canada to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats. The strained ties trace back to allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Parliament last year, where he claimed "credible allegations" of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly denied the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "politically motivated," and criticized Canada for harboring extremist and anti-India elements.

In response to Canada’s diplomatic communication suggesting the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in Nijjar's killing, India termed the claims "preposterous" and recalled then-High Commissioner Verma and five other diplomats. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated as a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot dead outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, in June last year. The allegations and subsequent actions have further deepened the rift between the two nations.

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