The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has provided information about Indian consular staff in Canada in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha. The Foreign Ministry said Canadian authorities are asking to keep him under audio-video surveillance.
Amidst the ongoing dispute with Canada, the Indian Foreign Ministry has clarified the situation regarding the consular officers of the Indian Embassy. Respect for each other’s concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty is essential for lasting bilateral relations, he said in the Rajya Sabha, adding that Indian Consulate officials in Vancouver were recently informed by Canadian authorities that the audio and video Were under surveillance. His personal communications are also blocked. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that stable bilateral relations require respect for each other’s concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
He was asked whether there have been any cases of cyber surveillance or other types of surveillance targeting Indian diplomats in Canada. To this he said that yes, recently, the consular officers of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver were informed by the Canadian authorities that they are and will remain under audio and video surveillance and their personal communications have also been intercepted. Singh, in his response, said, “The Government of India, through its Note Verbale dated November 2, 2024, had lodged a strong objection to the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on this issue. Because this action was a gross violation of all diplomatic provisions.
Consular personnel facing extremism and violence
In his reply, the minister also referred to the reply of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson in his recent weekly briefing to the media here. He said the Canadian government cannot justify this fact by citing technicalities and harassing and intimidating them. Our diplomats and embassy personnel are already working in an environment of extremism and violence.
