Sanjay Kumar Verma is a seasoned Indian diplomat currently serving as the High Commissioner of India to Canada. He has been at the center of a diplomatic row between India and Canada, with the Canadian government naming him as a "person of interest" in the investigation of the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader in Canada.
Key background:
- Experienced diplomat: Verma is a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer with over three decades of experience in diplomacy.
- Academic background: He holds a postgraduate degree in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and graduated from Patna University.
- Diverse diplomatic portfolio: Verma has served in various capacities in Indian missions across the globe, including Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Turkey, Italy, Sudan, Japan, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
- Ambassadorial roles: He has previously served as the Indian Ambassador to Sudan, Japan, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
- Key positions in India: Before his current posting, Verma held positions such as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
- Tech savvy: He is known for his interest in information technology, artificial intelligence, and cyber diplomacy.
- Multilingual: Verma is proficient in Hindi, English, and Chinese (Mandarin).
The Canadian government's designation of Verma as a "person of interest" has escalated tensions between India and Canada. India has vehemently denied any involvement in the killing of Nijjar and has labelled the Canadian allegations as "absurd and motivated."
