India Canada Relations: According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, the space provided to terrorists and extremists continues to be India’s main grievance with Canada. This was stated on Thursday. This occurs one day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that the US indictment of an Indian national in connection with an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist (Gurpatwant Singh Pannun) may have caused a “tonal shift” in New Delhi’s relations with Ottawa.
MEA Spokesperson’s Assertion
MEA spokesperson Bagchi said, “Our position has been quite consistent. And whenever this has been raised, we have highlighted how we see the problem.” “The core issue remains the space that is given to extremists and terrorists and, anti-India elements in that country,” he added.
Bagchi Urges Response on Extremist Elements
Bagchi said, “I think you would have heard from the External Affairs Minister recently as well as others, about the developments of that case… and we would hope that they would take action on such extremist, elements that are misusing the freedom of speech and expression in their country” Trudeau said to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday that, “I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can’t bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before.”
Indian Government’s Serious Stance
According to him, the US indictment seems to have persuaded the Indian government to take a more serious stance. Following Trudeau’s claims on September 18 of a “potential” role for Indian operatives in the June 18 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, relations between India and Canada became severely strained. In 2020, India classified Nijjar as a terrorist. Trudeau’s accusations were dismissed by India as “absurd” and “motivated”.
Accusations Against Nikhil Gupta
The US federal prosecutors accused a man named Nikhil Gupta in November of collaborating with an Indian government employee in an abortive attempt to murder a Sikh separatist who is dual-citizen of the US and Canada. The media identified the separatist Sikh leader as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of the Sikhs for Justice, an organisation that is prohibited in India, even though his name was withheld. A probe committee has already been established in India to look into the claims.
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