External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called the space given to Khalistani extremism in Canada a “worrisome issue". The statement came days after the matter was brought forth to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the G20 Summit in Delhi.
Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Jaishankar said that he had nothing to respond on the matter as Trudeau and his delegation said what they had to and the Indian side also did the same.
“I don’t think there is anything for me to respond to the Canadian Prime Minister and his system said what they had to say,… our system said what they had to say. The particular issue which is the space that has been given to Khalistani in Canada is a worrisome issue. This is not a new conversation this is part of an ongoing conversation," Jaishankar said.
#Exclusive | Space given to Khalistani terrorism in Canada is worrisome. G20 presidency, the summit was an important milestone for India for a variety of reasons: @DrSJaishankar, Foreign Minister#G20India2023 #G20Summit2023 | @Zakka_Jacob pic.twitter.com/nuVrIhCwXn— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 12, 2023
This comes as the Khalistan issue loomed over Trudeau’s presence in Delhi and was even a part of discussion between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi had told Trudeau that the nexus between Khalistani separatists and organised crime and drug syndicates and human trafficking rackets should be of concern for the Canadian government as well.
PM Modi conveyed India’s strong concerns about the continuous anti-India activities perpetrated by Khalistani separatist groups in Canada.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that in recent years Khalistani separatists have used Canadian soil to promote secessionism, the ministry of external affairs said in a press release. PM Modi told Trudeau that these Khalistani extremists have in recent times incited violence against Indian diplomats, damaged diplomatic premises and threatened the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.
PM Modi said that “India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties”. “A relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship,” the Prime Minister had said, according to the press release.
This also comes as top Indian intelligence sources told News18 that Trudeau government is aware of the anti-India activities and propaganda of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, but is sitting on several extradition requests from Indian authorities to protect its constituency in domestic politics under the guise of upholding freedom of speech.
According to sources, pro-Khalistani entities in Canada are using Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots that broke out in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination as tools to radicalise generations born after 1984. At parades like the recent ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ in Toronto, such groups have openly called for violence against India, but no action has been taken against them by the Canadian authorities.