'Canada supports strong united India'

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Thursday said that her country, which was facing separatist challenges, supported a strong and united India.

"We are familiar with separatist challenges at home, Canada supports a strong and united India. Terrorism, in all forms, is a threat, Freeland said during her speech in New Delhi. Adding that, all democracies should be united in its condemnation.

The remarks came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is on a visit to India, received backlash over his wife Sophie Trudeau's photo with convicted pro-Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau said the matter was being taken "extremely seriously."

"Obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation," the Canadian Prime Minister said in the context of Atwal, who is one of four men convicted for ambushing and shooting Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu at Vancouver Island in 1986.

Atwal was invited to dine with Trudeau at a formal event hosted by Canadian High Commissioner to India Nadir Patel on Thursday.

The invite was later rescinded.

Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Randeep S. Sarai took responsibility for inviting Atwal to Trudeau's reception dinner in New Delhi, which is scheduled to take place later today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)