Canada on Friday expressed "deep regret" over the language used by its officials against Indian defence and security establishments, saying it has created "inaccurate impression" which does not reflect the position or policy of the Canadian government.
In a damage-control exercise, Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney hailed the Indian defence and security institutions, saying they operate "under
the framework of democratic processes and the rule of law."
Terming as "unfortunate" the incidents involving use of foul language by Canadian High Commission in visa rejection letters to some individuals, Kenney said, "This language, or
the inaccurate impression it has created, in no way reflects the policy or position of the Government of Canada."
In a statement emailed from Ottawa, he said, "The Government of Canada, therefore, deeply regrets the recent incident in which letters drafted by public service officials during routine visa refusals to Indian nationals cast false
aspersions on the legitimacy of work carried out by Indian defence and security institutions, which operate under the framework of democratic processes and the rule of law."
The comments came in the backdrop of an outrage in India over adverse comments made by Canadian High Commission officials here against Indian armed forces and intelligence establishment while rejecting visas of some senior serving and
retired officials.