Amid an escalating diplomatic row with India, the accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are probably way too big to be deemed true.
New Delhi/Ottawa: The diplomatic showdown between the Indian and Canadian governments intensified after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before the foreign interference inquiry earlier this week and made certain serious allegations against Indian diplomats, leading to a chain of events that further strained the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Trudeau said that India has been insisting on evidence over allegations leveled by Canada regarding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but his government had provided just intelligence, "not hard evidentiary proof.”
He further suggested that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. Trudeau drew further criticism by claiming that he has the names of Conservative parliamentarians who are involved in foreign interference.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 17 said what it has heard only "confirms" New Delhi's consistent stand that Canada has "presented us no evidence" in support of the serious allegations Ottawa chose to level against India and Indian diplomats. The MEA also held Trudeau's "cavalier behavior" responsible for damaging India-Canada relations.
Later in the day, MEA revealed that 26 extradition requests are pending with the Canadian government since last more than 10 years, including those of some hardcore Khalistani extremists and criminals wanted by India.
“Some of the notable ones, who have been charged with terror and related crimes, are Gurjeet Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh Landa and Arshdeep Singh Gill. We have shared the security-related information with the Canadian government," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing. The extradition requests include those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with the Indian government requesting the Justin Trudeau government to arrest them or take due action against them as per the law.
"So far no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our requests. This is very serious. Also, we find it very strange that the people we asked to be deported, on whom we asked action to be taken, we are being told - the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is blaming the Indian side - that these people are committing crimes in Canada for which India is to be blamed. So, this is a contradiction which we don't understand," the MEA spokesperson added.
India also expressed deep concerns over the attacks on several journalists in Canada who have been reporting on Khalistani extremism in the country. These Indian-origin journalists, including Rishi Nagar, Sameer Kaushal, and Deepak Punj, have been attacked for reporting or criticizing Khalistan-related violence. According to Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya, another anti-terrorism investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan has received death threats for his fearless reporting on Khalistani extremism in Canada.
However, as has been the case with the vandalization of Hindu temples and continued attacks on Hindus in Canada, the Trudeau government has failed to take any action, so far. In what has been one of the lowest points in relations between the two countries, New Delhi decided to withdraw its High Commissioner and "other targeted diplomats and officials" from Canada following Trudeau's continued "hostility" towards India.
Under mounting pressure for its botched up and without "hard evidentiary proof" investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is now evading international media. The ties between India and Canada nosedived after Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar. The government of India has strongly rejected these “preposterous imputations”.
Chorus grows for Trudeau's resignationAs the Canadian Prime Minister continues to walk on thin ice, both at home and abroad, many leaders from his own party and several Members of Parliament are planning to go beyond just publicly expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership and officially demand his resignation in the coming days. Canada's leading daily The Globe and Mail reported that at least 20 MPs have agreed to put their names on a demand to oust Trudeau - a move which it said appears to be "quickly snowballing into a serious effort" to force him out. |
