NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday criticised certain western nations for struggling to adapt to the emerging multi-polar world order, where the Global South is gaining influence.
Speaking at an NDTV summit, the minister specifically condemned Canada 's " double standards " regarding the expectations placed on Indian diplomats in Canada compared to what Canadian diplomats can do on Indian soil.
"Canada asked us to subject our High Commissioner to a police inquiry and we chose to withdraw the High Commissioner and diplomats. They seem to have a problem if Indian diplomats are even trying to make efforts to find out what is happening in Canada on matters which directly pertain to their welfare and security. But look what happens in India. Canadian diplomats have no problem going around collecting information on our military, police, profiling people, targeting people to be stopped in Canada. So apparently, the license that they give themselves is totally different from the kind of restrictions that they impose on diplomats in Canada," Jaishankar said, adding that the word "double-standard is too mild".
"When we tell them you have people openly threatening leaders of India, diplomats of India. Their answer is freedom of speech. When Indian journalists make social media comments, if you threaten the Indian High Commissioner, he is supposed to accept it as freedom of speech. But if an Indian journalist says the Canadian High Commissioner walked out of South Block looking very grumpy, it is apparently foreign interference. There is this thing that we will do it differently at home. We will do it differently abroad. We will do it our way, but that doesn't apply to you. I think these are the larger adjustments which have to happen in this changing world," the EAM said.
The reaction comes as Justin Trudeau 's government grapples with accusations of failing to provide substantial evidence that India was connected to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In response to Trudeau's allegations, India has categorically denied any involvement in Nijjar's killing, labeling the claims as "absurd" and politically motivated.
India also recently expelled 6 Canadian diplomats from New Delhi while recalling its High Commissioner and some diplomats from Ottawa.
The external affairs ministry criticised Trudeau for his "cavalier behavior", which they said has damaged bilateral relations. The ministry also accused Canada of harboring extremist elements that threaten India's national security.
Speaking at an NDTV summit, the minister specifically condemned Canada 's " double standards " regarding the expectations placed on Indian diplomats in Canada compared to what Canadian diplomats can do on Indian soil.
"Canada asked us to subject our High Commissioner to a police inquiry and we chose to withdraw the High Commissioner and diplomats. They seem to have a problem if Indian diplomats are even trying to make efforts to find out what is happening in Canada on matters which directly pertain to their welfare and security. But look what happens in India. Canadian diplomats have no problem going around collecting information on our military, police, profiling people, targeting people to be stopped in Canada. So apparently, the license that they give themselves is totally different from the kind of restrictions that they impose on diplomats in Canada," Jaishankar said, adding that the word "double-standard is too mild".
"When we tell them you have people openly threatening leaders of India, diplomats of India. Their answer is freedom of speech. When Indian journalists make social media comments, if you threaten the Indian High Commissioner, he is supposed to accept it as freedom of speech. But if an Indian journalist says the Canadian High Commissioner walked out of South Block looking very grumpy, it is apparently foreign interference. There is this thing that we will do it differently at home. We will do it differently abroad. We will do it our way, but that doesn't apply to you. I think these are the larger adjustments which have to happen in this changing world," the EAM said.
The reaction comes as Justin Trudeau 's government grapples with accusations of failing to provide substantial evidence that India was connected to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In response to Trudeau's allegations, India has categorically denied any involvement in Nijjar's killing, labeling the claims as "absurd" and politically motivated.
India also recently expelled 6 Canadian diplomats from New Delhi while recalling its High Commissioner and some diplomats from Ottawa.
The external affairs ministry criticised Trudeau for his "cavalier behavior", which they said has damaged bilateral relations. The ministry also accused Canada of harboring extremist elements that threaten India's national security.
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