NEW DELHI, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- India's External Affairs Ministry on Friday summoned the High Commissioner of Canada in India and informed him that comments by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, cabinet ministers and lawmakers on issues related to the Indian farmers constitute "an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs".
A demarche issued to the Canadian envoy said, "Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on ties between India and Canada."
"These comments have encouraged gatherings of extremist activities in front of our High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise issues of safety and security. We expect the Canadian Government to ensure the fullest security of Indian diplomatic personnel and its political leaders to refrain from pronouncements that legitimize extremist activism," it added.
On Tuesday, while addressing members of the Sikh community in Canada, Trudeau said that the situation of Indian farmers agitating against farm bills was "concerning" and that his country would "be there to defend the rights of peaceful protest."
In response to Trudeau's remarks, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Tuesday described the comments as "ill informed".
"We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country. It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes," Srivastava said in response to a media query.
Thousands of Indian farmers, particularly from northern states of Punjab and Haryana, have staged protests in areas surrounding the national capital New Delhi demanding withdrawal of new farm laws recently enacted by the federal government.
Police have stopped the protesters from moving forward from inter-state borders with Delhi, with the agitated farmers camping there, affecting the normal traffic heading towards Delhi. Enditem
