US denies envoy saying Canada row could worsen relations with India
The American media outlet quoted Eric Garcetti as saying the US may need to reduce contacts with Indian officials for a while following the India-Canada diplomatic row
The US embassy on Thursday (October 5) denied that American ambassador Eric Garcetti has suggested the US may need to cut contacts with Indian officials for a while following an India-Canada spat over the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
American media outlet The Politico quoted an unnamed official as saying: "Garcetti has told his in-country team that because of the diplomatic spat with Canada, relations between India and the US could get worse for a time."
Garcetti also has reportedly said the US may need to reduce contacts with Indian officials for an undefined period of time, it reported.
US embassy dismisses reports
A US embassy spokesperson said: "The US embassy dismisses these reports. Ambassador Garcetti is working hard every day to deepen the partnership between the people and governments of the US and India."
"As his personal engagement and public schedule demonstrates, Ambassador Garcetti and the US Mission to India are working every day to advance the important, strategic, and consequential partnership we have with India," the spokesperson added.
India-Canada ties
Ties between India and Canada have been hit after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged an Indian hand in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India rejected the allegations as "absurd".
The White House said on Tuesday that Canada's allegations regarding India's involvement in the killing are "serious" and need to be probed fully.
(With agency inputs)
