Toronto/New Delhi: In a latest development in the increasing acrimonious Canada India relations, triggered by Trudeau, violent clashes erupted on Sunday during a visit by Indian consular officials to a Hindu temple in Brampton, a Toronto suburb. Footage shared on social media shows groups of demonstrators, including supporters of Khalistan and others waving India’s national flag, clashing on the grounds of the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple. In some clips, people appear to be engaged in fistfights and using poles. MEA was quick to respond. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday.
‘We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks. We also expect that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.
‘The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence.’
India Canada ties have nosedived drastically in the last few months. Canadian govt has recently named a senior minister from the Modi govt Amit Shah, the Home Minister himself, having a hand in Nijjar’s killing. Canadian officials confirmed it to the US Daily Washington Post about it, on record. Canada India relations have a vast gamut. From trade to Consular to Indian students going to Canada for higher studies, people to people ( with a huge Indian Diaspora). The ties have had a hit in recent months with PM Trudeau making serious allegations on New Delhi without any substantial proofs.
In the weekly media briefing by MEA on Nov 2, Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed, ‘We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. A diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29th 2024. It was conveyed in the Note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison. In fact, the revelation that High Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view Government of India has long held about current Canadian government’s political agenda and behavioral pattern.’
Adding he said, ‘Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties.’
It would be worth a reminder that in October the Indian NSA met with Canadian officials to discuss the case and in particular the details about a gang run by a man called Lawrence Bishnoi. So if for the last year the government has consistently said that Canada has given no evidence, dismissed any allegations made by Canada in the Nijjar killing, then why did the NSA actually go all the way to Singapore to meet with Canadian intelligence. Jaiswal stopped short saying, ‘yes, the meeting did take place which I had confirmed earlier also. And I again reiterate that Canada so far has not shared with us any shred of evidence in the matter referred to.’
Further there are reports that Canadian government has reduced number of Visas they used to issue to the Indians, Jaiswal noted, ‘We obviously are monitoring the well-being of our student community in Canada, as also the well-being of our professionals who are working in Canada. Our concern for the safety and security remains very strong.
On recently Canadian Opposition leaders cancelling a scheduled Diwali event in Canadian Parliament, MEA called it unfortunate ‘that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.’
On a question regarding Jagmeet Singh, the Canadian MP who has withdrawn support from Trudeau govt recently, about his party wanting to introduce a motion to officially recognize the Sikh genocide in their Parliament, Jaiswal said, ‘for long, we have been making our views very clear about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada. This is our core concern with the Canadian government and we hope that they will take action against these activities.’
In a series of evidenceless allegations on India, another report from Canada stated that India is involved in cyber-attack on Canadian government institutions putting us in a bracket of enemy category which has North Korea, Iran among others there, and China as well, Jaiswal clarified, ‘This categorization is under a report they have released on cyber matters. We see this appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. Their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence. So, by saying absurd and baseless things, they are accusing us.’
Indian Diplomats under surveillance in Canada
As per reports and also the acknowledgement by the recalled India’s High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma, Jaiswal informed, ‘some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continued to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions. By citing technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices.’
US sanctions India
In a recent development in India US relations, the US has sanctioned 19 private entities from India and two Indian nationals, allegedly for dual use technologies to Russia. India’s reaction was that of caution. Jaiswal said, ‘we have seen these reports of U.S. sanctions. India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and non-proliferation controls. We are also a member of three key multilateral non-proliferation export control regimes: The Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime; and have been effectively implementing relevant UNSC sanctions and UNSC Resolution-1540 on Non-Proliferation. Our understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws. Nevertheless, in keeping with India’s established non-proliferation credentials, we are working with all the relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitize Indian companies on applicable export control provisions, as also inform them on new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances. Regular strategic trade export control outreach events for Indian industries and stakeholders are being carried out by agencies of the Government of India. We are also in touch with the U.S. authorities to clarify issues.’
On the other hand U.S. has been sending flights repatriating illegal Indians from there. As per MEA, ‘We have a regular dialogue with the United States on migration and mobility and the idea behind that is to create more avenues for legal migration. As part of our regular consular dialogue and arrangement, we have facilitated movement of people who are staying in the United States illegally or are part of irregular movement and this has been going on for some time. We hope that with this cooperation and our engagement with the United States on mobility and migration, we will be able to deter illegal immigration.
