'Memo' on Indian Diplomats Floating on Social Media is Fake, Says MEA

New Delhi: External Affairs Ministry on Friday termed as fake a 'secretly issued memo' that has surfaced on social media and that falsely attempts to link Indian diplomats abro with violent crimes.

such memo has been issued by Government of India, External Affairs Ministry said, " said GoI communication is fake," External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division (XP Division), of Ministry of External Affairs said.

April 2023 dated fake memo purportedly from former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra asks Indian diplomats to "cultivate" Indian diaspora groups in Cana "as vital force in street confrontations with Sikh extremists".

It goes on to mention names of various groupings of diaspora include Indo-Cana Association (ICA), Indo-Cana Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), TiE Silicon Valley (TiE SV), and USIBC amongst ors.

This comes amid ongoing India-Cana standoff over India's allegations that Cana acts as a safe haven for Khalistani separatists. Last week devotees and or people were attacked at premises of a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario. India has condemned violence and urged Cana to provide security to Indian diplomats.

Last month, India "strongly" rejected a diplomatic communication from Cana suggesting that Indian High Commissioner and or diplomats were "persons of interest" in Nijjar's killing and termed it as "preposterous imputations" and part of political nda of Justin Trudeau government.

Following this, n High Commissioner Verma and five or diplomats were recalled by New Delhi.

Ties between India and Cana soured after Trudeau alleged in Canian Parliament last year that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India denied all allegations, calling m "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Cana of giving to extremist and anti-India elements in ir country.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation ncy in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.