(a) whether a number of MPs have written a letter urging him to recall India`s High Commissioner to Canada;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the action taken/ proposed to be taken thereon?
(a) whether a number of MPs have written a letter urging him to recall India`s High Commissioner to Canada;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the action taken/ proposed to be taken thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b)&(c)The concerned Members of Parliament demanded the recall of the Indian High Commissioner on the ground of his having put pressure on the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) to withdraw support to the exhibition titled `Dust on the Road` organised by SAHMAT in some Canadian cities. The exhibition included a series of political posters used by SAHMAT in recent election campaigns in India. Many of these attacked the nuclear, defence and security policies of India.
SICI is a bilateral, non-political organisation funded by the Governments of India and Canada, meant to improve understanding and interaction between scholars and academics of the two countries. Government of India has the responsibility to ensure that public funds granted to this Institute are spent in conformity with its objectives.