‘Canada behaviour the pits’; Khalistan a criminal enterprise’

Calling Canada's behaviour "the pits", India's recalled high commissioner Sanjay Verma says India was backstabbed and treated in a most unprofessional manner by a country that is supposed to be a friendly democracy.

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He said "a handful" of supporters of Khalistan have turned the ideology into a criminal enterprise, which indulges in a range of activities such as gun-running and human trafficking and yet the Canadian authorities turn a blind eye because they comprise a vocal electoral bank for local politicians.

In an unexpected downturn of relations, Verma was declared a "person of interest" by Canada on October 13 in its investigation into the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who has been declared a Khalistani terrorist by India.

Before Canada could take further action, New Delhi recalled Verma and five other diplomats, who were also similarly named.

Verma, an Indian Institute of Technology graduate and a nuclear scientist, has previously served as India's ambassador to Japan and Sudan.

Asked if he has ever seen anything like this in his 36-year diplomatic career, Verma said: "This is the pits.