In the wake of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s recent remarks regarding Khalistani sentiment in his country, India on May 2, 2024, said these statements once again underscored the political tolerance afforded to the separatism, extremism and violence in Canada.
Addressing the media, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “This not only impacts India-Canada relations but also encourages a climate of violence ad criminality in Canada which is detriment of its own citizens, he said, when asked about Trudeau’s remarks. Earlier this week, Canadian PM Trudeau reiterated the government’s steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of the Sikh community regardless of the circumstances.
India, on April 29, 2024, summoned the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada and lodged a strong protest with him over raising of pro-Khalistani slogans at the event in the presence of Justin Trudeau and several other leaders.
PM Trudeau has made such remarks earlier as well. His remarks illustrate once again the political space given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence. On the sidelines of the event, the Canadian PM also told the media that the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023 created a problem and he cannot ignore it.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Khalistani separatist and he was wanted in India for several terror charges. It is our problem in relations with India because we cannot ignore that, Trudeau said on the killing of Nijjar. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau’s allegations in September last year to of a potential involvement of Indian agents in the death of Nijjar.
India rejected the allegations and called them absurd and motivated. Days after Trudeau’s allegations, India asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity. Subsequently, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats and their family members from India. India has been asserting that its core issue with Canada remained that of the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country.
Following Trudeau’s allegations last year, India temporarily suspended issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. The visa services resumed several weeks later after the diplomatic heat began to cool down to a certain extent.
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