NEW DELHI, 05 December, 2020, (TON): India summoned Canada’s ambassador on Friday and said comments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over protests by farmers near Delhi were an interference in its domestic affairs and would seriously hurt bilateral ties.

Earlier, speaking virtually to members of the Indian community in Canada, Trudeau called images of the clashes “concerning” and that Canada would “always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protest.”

Indian officials bristled at Trudeau’s remarks, the first from a world leader on the growing protests. On Tuesday, the ministry of external affairs said the Canadian leader was “ill-informed” about the nature of the protests.

On Friday, India escalated its frustration, summoning Canada’s top diplomat in the country over the “unacceptable interference in our internal affairs” and warning further actions from Trudeau could have consequences for the relationship between the two countries.

“Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on ties between India and Canada,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Landowners and agricultural workers from the northern Indian state of Punjab have been striking for days against the central government after it passed a series of reforms on farming laws, many fear will damage their livelihoods.

Thousands of farmers were met by police and tear gas as they descended upon India's capital this week, demanding a rollback of three controversial farm laws.

In recent days, a number of political leaders in the United States, the UK and Australia have since criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the growing crisis.

Farmers outside of Delhi have announced they have no intention of leaving. Protest leaders have met with government officials over the last two days for negotiations, but talks fail yet again and justice-seeking farmer’s vows to continue their legitimate protest.