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Diplomatic Crisis: India Puts Canadian Visas on Hold

The update on Thursday came after a Punjab-origin NIA-wanted gangster Sukha Duneke was also shot dead in Canada’s Winnipeg in an inter-gang rivalry….reports Asian Lite News

India has suspended visa services for Canadians “till further notice” amid a massive international row over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that his government has intelligence linking New Delhi in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

A notice by BLS International – an online visa application centre said, “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking the BLS website for further updates:
BLS India Visa Application Centre.”

The update on Thursday came after a Punjab-origin NIA-wanted gangster Sukha Duneke was also shot dead in Canada’s Winnipeg in an inter-gang rivalry.

Sukhdool Singh, alias Duneke, was part of Khalistan movement in Canada. Duneke, an associate of the Devinder Bambiha Gang in Punjab, escaped to Canada in 2017 on forged documents.

On Wednesday, his name figured among the list of 43 gangsters released by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which sought information about his illegal properties.

His murder on Wednesday night is similar to the killing of terrorist Nijjar in inter-gang warfare in Surrey in June.

On Tuesday, diplomatic relations between India and Canada nosedived over the killing of Nijjar. The same day India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat based here in a tit for tat move giving a similar reply to Canada.

The High Commissioner of Canada to India (Cameron Mackay) received summons on Tuesday during which New Delhi conveyed its decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat currently stationed in the country.

The concerned diplomat has been officially instructed to depart from India within the next five days, a statement issued by the MEA said.

“The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” the statement said.

The decision came after Canada had earlier expelled a high ranking Indian diplomat.

These developments have occurred after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday in an emergency statement in Parliament accused the Government of India of involvement in the fatal shooting of Nijjar.

India has rejected claims by the Canadian government that it had an involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India has dubbed the charges as “absurd and motivated”.

ALSO READ: Canada Harbours Terrorists and Extremists

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Canada jeopardised ties, says Shashi Tharoor

BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda reacted to the issue and said that although Canada has been professing liberal values, they have been supporting terrorists on their soil…reports Asian Lite News

Reacting to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on its soil, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that it was unfortunate that Trudeau made such a statement in the Parliament and that Canada “jeopardised” the state of a very good relationship.

“We are seeing a tit-for-tat on both sides. First, on the expulsion of a diplomat and then on this advisory…I think it is unfortunate that Canada chose such a public route. If at all they have any issue, these matters should be discussed privately with a friendly govt like India and the matter should be discussed behind closed doors. Going public, making a statement in the Parliament was very unfortunate by the Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) and having gone that far they (Canada) have really jeopardised the state of a very good relationship,” Tharoor said.

Earlier in the day, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda reacted to the issue and said that although Canada has been professing liberal values, they have been supporting terrorists on their soil.

“Canada has been professing all these liberal values like freedom of speech but they have been appeasing, patronising and supporting terrorists on their soil. And these terrorists are not just targeting India they have killed hundreds of Canadian citizens themselves,” Panda told.

Hitting out at the Canadian government, Panda said that the government of Canada does not allow a referendum for Quebec separatists but has no problem with Khalistani separatists who not only hold the referendum but also celebrate the acts of violence.

“Canada itself has separatist movements such as the Quebec Separatist movement. They don’t allow the same freedom to those who want to have independence for Quebec. They don’t allow a referendum for Quebec separatists. And yet they have no problem allowing Khalistani separatists and terrorists to not only have to try to have this referendum on Canadian soil but also to celebrate the acts of violence…This is not acceptable, It’s not civilized,” he said.

The BJP National Vice President also took a dig at the Canadian government and said that the Indian government must consider facilitating an online “referendum on the Quebec independence” issue just like they allow Khalistani separatists to try the same on Canadian soil.

“In the spirit of friendship with Canada, we in India must consider facilitating an online referendum on the Quebec independence issue (in gratitude for their allowing Khalistani separatists to try the same on Canadian soil). Perhaps we should also offer Indian soil for the Quebec independence movement’s events commemorating their sacrifices, bombings and assassination attempts (again, just like Canada has been so considerate to allow for the Khalistanis),” Panda posted on ‘X’.

“This would also embellish the spirit of free speech so cherished in both our nations and would help clarify the increasing support for an independent Quebec (as reported in media earlier this year). Finally, since elected Canadian politicians who support Quebec independence have been travelling and meeting European leaders, we should also meet and understand their views. In the spirit of Indo-Canadian friendship and cooperation, I would be glad to host an interaction for them here in Delhi,” he added. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Canada Updates Travel Advisory for India Amid Diplomatic Tensions

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Canada Harbours Terrorists and Extremists

Biarritz: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France on Aug 25, 2019. (Photo: IANS/MEA)

It is necessary to understand how Canada has become a safe haven for terrorists due to the lax rules and often political patronage given to these extremists by the leaders and political parties owing to the vote-bank politics and associated concerns … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem

In a major diplomatic rift between India and Canada, the latter expelled a top Indian diplomat declaring him persona non grata after putting allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a militant and leader of Khalistani separatist movement. India called these allegations ‘absurd and motivated’ while calling out the Canadian government for harbouring extremists and terrorists actively working to undermine India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and spreading anti-India propaganda. India charged Canada with interference in India’s internal affairs and in turn expelled a senior Canadian diplomat to convey its dismay with the Canadian authorities.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made unsubstantiated allegations against India in the Canadian Parliament of Indian connivance in the killings of Khalistani terrorists. India has long demanded the Canadian government to take action against these Khalistani extremists, instead,  Canada has not only been giving shelter to these terrorists but in many instances was found to giving encouragement and speaking in their voice against Indian sovereignty, violating the principles under the UN Charter of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country.

(180710) — RIGA, July 10, 2018 (Xinhua) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis (not seen in picture) in Riga, Latvia, on July 10, 2018. Trudeau pledged sustained commitment to Latvia’s security during his visit to Riga on Tuesday, saying that Canada would extend its leadership of the NATO battalion stationed in the Baltic country for four more years. (Xinhua/Janis)

It is necessary to understand how Canada has become a safe haven for terrorists due to the lax rules and often political patronage given to these extremists by the leaders and political parties owing to the vote-bank politics and associated concerns. The fact that Canada has a Sikh population of over 770,000, about 2 per cent of the total Canadian population, courting Khalistani elements by some of the leaders has become a matter of political expediency amongst Canadian political class. However, what these leaders fail to understand, or tend to ignore, is the fact that a very small fraction of the Sikh immigrants harbours Khalistani sentiments. Rest all are as Indians in their words, thoughts, and deeds as any common India.

The fact that Canada has turned into a hub of terrorist and extremist activities, receiving adequate shelter and support from the authorities no longer remains clandestine. Global News, a leading Canadian news agency, came up with a report some time back highlighting that Canada has a secret programme that facilitates harbouring of terrorists. The report stated how Canada allows certain high-profile individuals who are carrying out subversive activities in their home country to receive Canadian visas and operate from Canadian territory with impunity.

That Canada follows a policy of appeasement toward extremists and terrorists, including Khalistani elements, has become common knowledge. Several credible Canadian sources corroborate this fact. For instance, Bill Bauer, a former member of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, stated that Canada is now looked upon as being a “welcoming country for terrorists, war criminals, and so on”. He said it was the result of a series of shortcomings in their own system. David Harris, a former chief of strategic planning for the Canadian Security.

India, Canada flag

Intelligence Service, stated that “we are already playing a significant role in international terrorism funding. We have 50 terrorist organizations of a variety of descriptions here, and a good number of those are the so-called world-class ones”. He reaffirmed the fact that Canada is not meeting its obligations regarding counterterrorism as it is allowing organizations of a terrorist nature to fund terrorism worldwide. He also admitted that Canada is now a place to come for recruiting, planning and organizing terrorist activities. In a similar vein, Rep. Lamar Smith, who chaired the House Immigration Subcommittee from 1994 to 2002, admitted that “Canada allows terrorist organizations to set up shop in Canada.”

Terry Milewski, a retired CBC journalist, wrote in his book Blood for Blood: Fifty Years of the Global Khalistan Project (2021) that Indians have been complaining to the Canadian authorities regarding their lax approach towards Khalistani extremism as far back as 1982 when the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi complained about it to Canada’s Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Milewski in his statement noted that Canadian leaders “wrongly think the loud minority of Khalistanis are all Sikhs of Canada” and are afraid of losing Sikh votes.

Despite India’s request to check Khalistani separatist activities, the Canadian government allowed the organization of a rigged referendum in the Canadian city of Brampton in November last year on the question of whether areas of India where the Sikh religion is in the majority should be an independent country known as “Khalistan.” Terry Milewski rightly termed it as “plain absurd” that a vote is taking place on Canadian soil for a state in India.

The fact that a convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal was part of Trudeau’s entourage when he visited India in 2018 was not missed by analysts and public in general. This incident clearly established the fact that Canadian leaders and the dispensation are in a patron-client relationship with these terrorists, and Canada is now clearly a safe haven for terrorists and extremists to flourish and propagate their propaganda. What’s more ironic, and unfortunate at the same time, is that despite Canada itself being a victim of Khalistani terrorism when in 1985 Air India Flight 182 was bombed by the Khalistani terrorists which killed all 329 passengers and crew that included 268 Canadian citizens, Canadian leaders are now hand-in-glove with these extremists.

Canada has not only betrayed the martyred citizens of the 1985 Air India flight but is also betraying the ordinary Canadian people. By supporting terrorist organisations such as Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Canada is complicit in an act of subversion against a friendly sovereign state like India. India has remained patient with the Canadian authorities in the hope that good sense will prevail among Canadian leadership to start realising the threats posed not only to India but to the entire world because of state-sponsored terrorism. India has preferred diplomacy to coax the Canadian government, however, the language and actions undertaken by Canada suggest that it prefers to remain the harbour of terrorism.

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Canada Updates Travel Advisory for India Amid Diplomatic Tensions

India, Canada flag

“This advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing,” it said...reports Asian Lite News

On a day when diplomatic relations between India and Canada nosedived over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada updated its travel advisory urging citizens to exercise “high degree of caution” while travelling to India citing terrorism threat.Canada while updating its travel advisory asked its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.”Avoid non-essential travel to the following states due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency in Assam Manipur,” it said.It also warned its citizen to avoid travel to Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation.”There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping,” it said, adding, “This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.”It also warned its citizens to avoid travel to border areas with Pakistan. “Avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance.”

“This advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing,” it said.Earlier in the day, amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Canada, New Delhi on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat based here in a tit for tat move giving similar reply to Canand.The High Commissioner of Canada to India (Cameron Mackay) received summons on Tuesday during which the Government of India conveyed its decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat currently stationed in the country.

The concerned diplomat has been officially instructed to depart from India within the next five days, a statement issued by the external affairs ministry said.”The decision reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” the statement said.The decision came after Canada had earlier expelled a high ranking Indian diplomat.These developments have occurred after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday in an emergency statement in Parliament accused the Government of India of involvement in the fatal shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.Trudeau had said that the Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.

India has rejected claims by the Canadian government that it had an involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.Terming them as “absurd and motivated”, the external affairs ministry in a statement said: “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated.”

ALSO READ-Canada Expels Indian Diplomat Amid Bilateral Tensions

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Trudeau puts India, Canada ties on thin ice

New Delhi, Sept 10 (ANI): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses a press conference on the G20 Leaders' Summit, in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

Amid the tensions between India and Canada, the security of the Canada High Commission in Delhi has been increased…reports Asian Lite News

After the recent “unfounded” accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the relationship between India and Canada, two great democracies stand on thin ice, author Dr Jasneet Bhatti wrote in Khalsa Vox.

According to the author, the “abrupt declaration that India could have had a hand” in the killing of a Sikh extremist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is not only “bewildering” but might also signify a “new low in the bilateral relations of these countries”.

At its core, this accusation seems to be rooted more in prejudice and less in fact. India’s outrage is hardly surprising for a nation that has always championed the fight against terrorism on a global stage.

For Canada, however, such a hasty judgment might prove costly. Instead of basing relationships on mutual respect and understanding, Canada’s unwarranted support for extremist groups, notably the Khalistan movement, poses a real threat to international collaboration.

To draw an analogy, Canada’s stance feels eerily similar to Pakistan’s known interference in India’s domestic matters. The consistent efforts to undermine and misrepresent India’s intentions have been a characteristic feature of Pakistan’s approach.

Security increased outside Canadian High Commission

Amid the tensions between India and Canada, the security of the Canada High Commission here was increased on Tuesday.

Several personnel of the Central Reserve Police and Delhi Police were deployed outside the Canadian High Commission.

This comes moments after India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat to India in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat.

Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay was summoned today to the South Block, the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs.

“The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

It added, “The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities”.

Meanwhile, India rejected the “absurd and motivated” claims made by the Canadian Prime Minister about New Delhi playing a role in the June killing of a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” said the MEA in an official statement.

“Allegations of the Indian government’s “involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated” the statement said.

It added, “Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected”.

The statement said India is a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the MEA statement said.

The release states that Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements and that remains a matter of deep concern.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new” read the release.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Monday said an Indian diplomat in Canada had been expelled, over allegations of the country’s involvement in the killing of the Khalistani leader Nijjar. (ANI)

World leaders “deeply concerned”

World leaders have expressed ‘deep concerns’ after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

The White House is “deeply concerned” about the accusations. “We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” said a spokesman for the National Security Council, Adrienne Watson.

The claims have “deeply concerned” Australia as well, according to a spokesperson for Penny Wong, the foreign minister of Australia. “We are closely engaged with partners on developments. We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India,” a statement read.

“We understand these reports will be particularly concerning to some Australian communities. The Indian diaspora is a valued and important contributor to our vibrant and resilient multicultural society, where all Australians can peacefully and safely express their views.”

ALSO READ-Canada Harbours Terrorists and Extremists

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Concerning reports coming from Canada: Labour MP

In an explosive charge on Monday, Canadian PM Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on its soil, British Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on Tuesday said many “anxious, angry and fearful Sikhs” from Slough and beyond have contacted him.

He added that the reports coming out of Canada were “concerning”.

Taking to his official handle on X, the British Labour MP posted, “Concerning reports coming from #Canada. Many #Sikhs from #Slough and beyond have contacted me; anxious, angry or fearful. Given Canadian PM Trudeau stated they’ve been working with close allies, we’re in touch with UK Gov to ensure justice is delivered.”

In an explosive charge on Monday, Canadian PM Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Addressing the Canadian Parliament on Monday (US local time), Trudeau claimed that his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said.

India, however, rejected the allegations, terming them “absurd” and “motivated”.

“We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.

“Allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” it stated.

World leaders also expressed ‘deep concerns’ over Trudeau’s allegations linking the Indian government to the fatal shooting of the Khalistan Tiger Force chief in British Columbia, Canada. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Canada Updates Travel Advisory for India Amid Diplomatic Tensions

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India Hits Back, Expels Canadian Diplomat in Tit-for-Tat

India Expels Canadian Diplomat Amidst Tensions Over Trudeau’s Accusations…reports Asian Lite News

India on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat to India in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat.

The move comes after India rejected as “absurd and motivated” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s charge that India played a role in the June killing of a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay was summoned today to the South Block, the headquarters of Ministry of External Affairs.

“The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

“The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” it said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Monday said an Indian diplomat in Canada had been expelled, Joly said the Canadian government had expelled the Indian diplomat over allegations of the country’s involvement in the killing of the Khalistani leader

“We see this possible breach of sovereignty as completely unacceptable, and so, that is also why we’re coming (out) with this information (of the expulsion of the Indian diplomat) today,” Joly said at a news conference.

Meanwhile, India rejected allegations made by Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament.

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister” said the MEA in an official statement.

“Allegations of the Indian government’s “involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated” a statement said.

“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected,” said the official release.

The statement said India is a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the MEA statement said.

The release states that Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements and that remain a matter of deep concern.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new” read the release.

India has strongly rejected any attempts to connect the government to such developments.

“We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil,” the MEA said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused the Indian government of being behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, CBC News reported.

Najjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Hailing from Bharsinghpur village in Punjab’s Jalandhar, Nijjar was based in Surrey and had been declared “absconder” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Earlier on Monday, speaking in a debate in the Canadian Parliament, Canadian PM Trudeau claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said.

He stated that the involvement of a foreign hand or government in the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada was unacceptable.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves,” Trudeau added.

He informed further that he was coordinating with Canadian allies on this issue.

“As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter,” he said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Tensions Soar as India-Canada Relations Strain Over Murder Accusations

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Canada Expels Indian Diplomat Amid Bilateral Tensions

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly.(photo:wikipedia)

Joly said the Canadian government had expelled an Indian diplomat over allegations of the country’s involvement in the killing of the Khalistani leader…reports Asian Lite News

Signalling a further souring of bilateral ties, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Monday said an Indian diplomat in the country had been expelled, Al Jazeera reported. 

The expulsion comes in light of PM Justin Trudeau’s statement alleging an Indian hand in the killing of wanted Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

Joly said the Canadian government had expelled an Indian diplomat over allegations of the country’s involvement in the killing of the Khalistani leader, according to Al Jazeera. 

However, she did not provide any further details on the diplomat’s name or the place from where he was expelled, according to the report.

“We see this possible breach of sovereignty as completely unacceptable, and so, that is also why we’re coming (out) with this information (of the expulsion of the Indian diplomat) today,” Joly said at a news conference, Al Jazeera reported. 

Earlier, on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being behind the fatal shooting of the wanted Khalistani leader, CBC News reported.

Nijjar was gunned down outside a gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, BC on June 18.

According to CBC News, Canada, PM Trudeau said his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said.

He stressed that the involvement of a foreign hand or government in the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada was unacceptable.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves,” Trudeau added.

He also urged the Indian government to “cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter”, CBC News reported.

He claimed that some Indo-Canadians were “angry” and “perhaps frightened right now”, adding, “Let us not allow this to change us”. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Tensions Soar as India-Canada Relations Strain Over Murder Accusations

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Tensions Soar as India-Canada Relations Strain Over Murder Accusations

Trudeau told the House of Commons that the “agents of the Indian government” carried out Nijjar’s killing…reports Asian Lite News

India’s relations with Canada nosedived on Tuesday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia’s Surrey in June.

Canada also expelled “a senior Indian diplomat” for India’s alleged involvement in the killing.

Nijjar, who was spearheading the Khalistani referendum in Canada, was gunned down by two persons on June 18 in the parking lot of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

Trudeau told the House of Commons that the “agents of the Indian government” carried out Nijjar’s killing.

The Canadian Prime Minister, who was snubbed in India during his recent visit, said: “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.”

Trudeau said: “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves.

“As you would expect, we have been working closely and coordinating with our allies on this very serious matter.”

Trudeau said that he brought the issue to the notice of the Indian Prime Minister during his visit. “Canada declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government last week at the G20. I brought them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi.”

He said because of Nijjar’s killing, Canadians are now “angry” and “perhaps frightened right now”. “Canada is a rule of law country. The protection of our citizens and defence of our sovereignty are fundamental.”

Expelling the senior Indian diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said: “My expectations are clear. I expect India to fully collaborate with us and get to the bottom of this.”

She said Canada has informed US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about its decision. 

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, under whom the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the killing, said: “We’ll hold the perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice.”

ALSO READ-Sikhs for Justice to Protest Outside Indian Consulates in Canada

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Sikhs for Justice to Protest Outside Indian Consulates in Canada

The SFJ told the news channel that it will also be calling for the expulsion of Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma…reports Asian Lite News

Calling for a ‘shutdown’ of Indian consulates in Canada, a pro-Khalistani outfit has said it will hold peaceful protests beginning next week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, who was spearheading the Khalistani referendum in Canada, was gunned down in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey city of British Columbia after evening prayers on June 18 this year.

The Sikhs for Justice, which is outlawed in India, said protests are slated to take place outside Indian consulates in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver on September 25, the Vancouver-based Global News reported.

“We will not allow the Indian consulates to function and we’re going to push the Canadian government to name the individuals who are responsible for assassinating and giving the orders to hit Nijjar,” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ’s legal counsel, told Global News.

“He has been assassinated outside the gurdwara — that was being done to give a very strong message to pro-Khalistan Sikhs that they will be hunted, even in the Western world,” Pannun said.

The SFJ told the news channel that it will also be calling for the expulsion of Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma.

Canada on Monday expelled senior Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai after Trudeau’s claims of “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar.

While foreign minister Melanie Joly didn’t name the diplomat, her office subsequently identified him as the RAW station chief in Canada.

Calling Trudeau’s revelation “unprecedented”, Jaskaran Sandhu, a board member with the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, was quoted as saying in Global News that he won’t be surprised if protests take place outside consulates before September 25 as well,

“People are livid right now. This is a news story that obviously has shaken the whole country. It’s also a news story that has shaken the community to a certain extent,” he said in an interview.

Trudeau, who was snubbed in India during his recent visit, said any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty”.

Despite New Delhi registering strong protests, an anti-India campaign has continued in Canada with pro-Khalistani graffiti and posters targeting Indian diplomats and temples across the country.

Incidents of Khalistani elements protesting outside the Indian consulate in Toronto displaying “Kill India” posters, had led to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar saying that Canada was apparently allowing these protests driven by votebank politics.

Meanwhile, the second referendum to weigh support for Khalistan will be held in Canada on October 29.

It will also be asking voters now whether the Indian high commissioner was responsible for Nijjar’s death.

ALSO READ-Trudeau Finally Flies Out From Delhi