National BJP Leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal Bhukhri Kalan said that with deepest respect, heartfelt congratulations and best wishes are extended to Senior Diplomat Shri Dinesh K Patnaik Ji, a distinguished 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, on his appointment as India’s next High Commissioner to Canada. He said that Shri Dinesh K Patnaik Ji’s vast experience, visionary outlook and diplomatic wisdom will surely play a defining role in further strengthening the historic and future-oriented ties between India and Canada.
This appointment comes at a significant time when relations between the two nations are being reset on the foundations of shared democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Grewal told that he sincerely appreciates the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the tireless efforts of Hon’ble External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar Ji, and the dedicated commitment of the Ministry of External Affairs under the able guidance of its senior officials, for steering India’s foreign policy with unmatched courage, dignity and global respect.
He said that the recent meeting of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Summit reaffirmed India’s strong resolve to build a relationship based on mutual trust, stability and cooperation. Grewal further added that he wholeheartedly wishes Shri Dinesh K Patnaik Ji great success in this prestigious new assignment and expressed confidence that his service will take India’s diplomatic journey with Canada to greater heights of respect and partnership.
Grewal also strongly condemned the so-called press release issued by the WSO on the appointment of High Commissioners, stating that this once serious organisation has now turned itself into a laughing stock within the community. He said Can any government in the world do what they are suggesting? Are they implying that career diplomats are members of criminal gangs? Only drama teacher Trudeau took them seriously in the past, and he paid a heavy price for that.
Grewal questioned whether the Canadian government could ever ask India to assure that a top diplomat, with over 30 years of unblemished service, has no links with criminal gangs. In the same manner, can the Indian government ask Canada to certify that their diplomat is not a member of the Hell’s Angels gang? Such suggestions, Grewal said, are ridiculous, irresponsible and insulting to the very institution of diplomacy.
He stated that the WSO President, Danish Singh has made a fool of himself and exposed his ignorance by issuing such a statement. Grewal added that the real motive behind this propaganda is not diplomacy, but an attempt to obstruct security co-operation between Canada and India.
He said that this is because stronger co-operation will naturally lead to the identification and apprehension of criminals sheltered in Khalistani gurdwaras in Canada, which are being misused to threaten their opponents and spread instability.