Indian Envoy In Canada Warns Of ‘Big Red Line’ On Anti-India Activities Of Sikh Separatist Groups
OTTAWA, May 8 : Amidst the diplomatic strain in India-Canada relations, India’s envoy here has warned that the Sikh separatist groups in Canada were crossing ”a big red line” that New Delhi sees as a matter of national security and of the country’s territorial integrity.
The killing sparked a wave of protests, with some Sikh groups circulating posters that threatened Indian diplomats in Canada by name.
Joly said her goal is still to conduct diplomacy with India in private.
She said she would let the police investigate instead of providing any new commentary on the case.
”We stand by the allegations that a Canadian was killed on Canadian soil by Indian agents,” Joly said on Parliament Hill.
”The investigation by the RCMP is being done. I won’t further comment and no other officials from our government will further comment,” she said, referring to the ongoing probe by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Meanwhile, Verma also mentioned ”so many positive things” happening in the relationship between India and Canada.
statement in response to the violent imagery being used by extremist elements in Canada against India’s political leadership.
”We again call upon the Government of Canada to stop providing criminal and secessionist elements a safe haven and political space in Canada,” the MEA spokesperson said in New Delhi.
Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stood by allegations that the Indian government was complicit in the slaying of Nijjar last year.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.
The killing sparked a wave of protests, with some Sikh groups circulating posters that threatened Indian diplomats in Canada by name.
Joly said her goal is still to conduct diplomacy with India in private.
She said she would let the police investigate instead of providing any new commentary on the case.
”We stand by the allegations that a Canadian was killed on Canadian soil by Indian agents,” Joly said on Parliament Hill.
”The investigation by the RCMP is being done. I won’t further comment and no other officials from our government will further comment,” she said, referring to the ongoing probe by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Meanwhile, Verma also mentioned ”so many positive things” happening in the relationship between India and Canada.
He noted the annual value of two-way trade is 26 billion Canadian dollars, and in the past 11 months, there has been a 75 per cent jump in Canadian lentil exports and a 21 per cent increase in Indian-prepared medicines reaching Canada.
On Tuesday, the group Sikhs for Justice called for Verma’s speech to be cancelled, citing the Nijjar case and allegations of foreign interference by India.
(CNI MONITERING)
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