India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Canada over a “citizens court” held by Sikh Separatists and the burning of an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver. Authoritative sources reported that India issued a note verbale, or diplomatic note, to the Canadian High Commission, expressing serious objections to the actions of the Sikh separatist elements.
The protest follows the Canadian parliament’s observance of a “moment of silence” for sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year. New Delhi’s note also conveyed its concerns over the space given to sikh separatists by the Justin Trudeau government. PM Modi briefly discussed these issues with Trudeau during a conversation on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained, particularly after Trudeau’s allegations last September of a potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing. India dismissed these allegations as “absurd.”
Foreign Secretary of India Vinay Kwatra emphasized that India’s main issue with Canada is the political space provided to anti-India elements advocating extremism and violence. India has consistently urged Ottawa to take strong action against these elements. Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating the murder.
India’s diplomatic protest underscores the ongoing tension between the two countries and highlights New Delhi’s demand for stronger action against anti-India elements operating from Canadian soil.
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