Indian diplomats in Canada under surveillance, centre tells parliament

When asked astir instances of cyber oregon different surveillance targeting Indian diplomats successful Canada, Singh confirmed the reports. He noted, “Recently, consular officials astatine the Indian Consulate successful Vancouver were informed by Canadian authorities that they person been, and proceed to be, nether audio and video surveillance and that their backstage communications person besides been intercepted.”

The Government of India lodged a ceremonial protestation with the Canadian High Commission successful New Delhi done a enactment verbale connected 2 November 2024, terming these actions a flagrant usurpation of diplomatic provisions.

Singh besides cited comments made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson successful a caller briefing: “By citing technicalities, the Canadian authorities cannot warrant indulging successful harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular unit already run successful an situation of extremism and violence. This enactment by the Canadian authorities aggravates the concern and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices.”

Regarding the information of Indian diplomats, Singh said the authorities remains successful continuous engagement with Canadian authorities to guarantee capable extortion for diplomatic unit and properties.

The curate highlighted that Canada’s National Cyber Threat Assessment study for 2025-2026, released connected 30 October, placed India nether “Section 1 – Cyber menace from authorities adversaries.” In response, the MEA described this arsenic different lawsuit of Canada’s “negative” attack to bilateral relations, stating that allegations against India were made “without immoderate evidence.”

Singh besides addressed concerns astir information provisions for Indian consular camps, noting that portion Canadian authorities person provided information for diplomats and diplomatic properties, they precocious expressed their inability to safeguard consular camps from convulsive acts by extremist and secessionist elements.

He further reiterated India’s telephone for punctual and effectual enactment by Canada against anti-India activities connected its soil. This includes addressing threats against Indian leaders and diplomats, preventing the glorification of governmental assassinations, and halting campaigns for India’s fragmentation done alleged “referendums.”

India and Canada person a adjacent transportation done their sizeable diaspora, with astir 1.8 cardinal Indo-Canadians and different cardinal non-resident Indians, including astir 427,000 Indian students. Singh emphasised that ensuring the information and payment of Indian nationals successful Canada remains a precedence for the Indian government.

Relations betwixt the 2 nations person been strained since allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau successful September past twelvemonth of “potential” engagement of Indian agents successful the sidesplitting of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed these claims arsenic “absurd,” maintaining that the halfway contented lies successful Canada providing abstraction for pro-Khalistan elements to run with impunity.

(With inputs from PTI)