India Reiterates Concerns Over Canadian Government’s Political Space to Khalistan Extremist Elements Amid Bilateral Tensions

India has reiterated its concerns about the Canadian government providing “political space” to extremist elements and those advocating violence, further reflecting the sharp downturn in bilateral ties. This issue was highlighted when the Canadian Parliament observed a minute’s silence for Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India, was killed last year, leading Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allege a link between Indian government agents and his murder, a claim India has dismissed as “absurd” due to lack of evidence.

New Delhi’s discontent has been exacerbated by recent protests by Khalistani terrorist elements in Canada, including a “people’s court” outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver where an effigy of the Indian premier was burnt. This action, along with the Canadian Parliament’s minute of silence for Nijjar, has drawn strong opposition from India. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India opposes any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence.

In response to the so-called “citizen’s court” organized by Khalistani terrorist outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver, India sent a diplomatic note to the Canadian high commission, protesting the event. Jaiswal emphasized that such gatherings are not helpful and reiterated the call for Canada to take action against extremist elements. He also referred to the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 by Khalistani terrorists, underscoring the historical context of such extremism and the need for stringent action.

These recent events follow a brief interaction between Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy, which had initially sparked speculation about a potential thaw in relations. However, the continued activities of Khalistani elements and Canada’s perceived leniency towards them have kept the bilateral ties strained. Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s position, urging the Canadian authorities to stop providing political space to anti-India elements and take necessary actions against those advocating violence.