He stated that because this issue involved New Delhi’s territorial integrity and national security, it was concerning. Since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared in September of last year that investigations were being conducted into the purported involvement of Indian government operatives in the Nijjar case, relations between India and Canada have been difficult.
Verma stated that the two nations are working to find a solution to the current crisis, but he quickly added that Canada’s misinterpretation of “decades-old issues” was to blame for the deeper issues that underlay the more recent “negative” developments.
Source: Rossland News
The most recent provocation occurred last week when proponents of Khalistan chanted anti-Indian slogans at a Sikh procession in Ontario. Pro-Khalistan slogans were yelled at a public event in Toronto late last month that Trudeau and other officials attended, leading India to restate that Canada was granting political space to “separatism, extremism, and violence.”
New Delhi is concerned about the safety of its diplomatic envoys in Maple Country as well as the exploitation of Canadian territory for anti-Indian propaganda. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Trudeau administration must guarantee that ambassadors may perform their duties without fear.
Source: The Free Press Journal
Now, the onus is with Canada. As a democratic nation that upholds the rule of law, Ottawa must take strong action against those who encourage and celebrate violence. It must not succumb to the intimidation of radical factions that abuse the right to free speech. Canada’s geopolitical and economic interests will suffer if it provokes an old ally like India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
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