India has called on Canada to take stronger action against individuals who have made threats against Indian leaders and institutions. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, expressed concern over Canada’s handling of threats and said it was time for Canada to show consistency in its approach to law and order.
#WATCH | On the reports that Canada has charged two persons for online threats posed to PM Justin Trudeau and other leaders, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen these reports. When a democracy adopts different yardsticks to measure or implement the rule of law… pic.twitter.com/Ll9hkQ5aiE
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2024
Recently, Canadian authorities charged two men in Alberta with making death threats against top Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mason John Baker, 23, from Calgary, has been charged with making threats to kill Trudeau. Another man, Garry Belzevick, 67, from Edmonton, faces charges for threatening Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. These threats were reportedly made on social media platforms.
Tensions between India and Canada have been high following statements made by Trudeau about allegations connecting Indian agents to the killing of Sikh Separatist terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023, was labeled a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency. India has rejected these allegations as false and politically motivated.
The situation has worsened with recent acts of vandalism targeting Hindu places of worship in Canada. The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton was vandalized, adding to a troubling trend of attacks on Hindu temples across the country. Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament from Nepean, expressed deep concern over these incidents and criticized Canadian law enforcement for not taking a stronger stance against Khalistani extremists.
#WATCH | On the reports on the vandalization of the Temple in Edmonton, Canada, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities, both in Delhi and Ottawa. We condemn the vandalization. We expect the local authorities to take… pic.twitter.com/rH4gMD3uPZ
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2024
Arya has repeatedly highlighted the issue of anti-Hindu rhetoric and violence, urging Canadian authorities to act more decisively. He pointed to previous instances where Khalistani extremists have incited hatred and violence against Hindu Canadians. Arya also criticized Canadian law enforcement for not addressing these threats with enough seriousness.
Randy Boissonnault, a Canadian Member of Parliament, also condemned the vandalism of the Edmonton temple, calling it a display of hateful rhetoric. He emphasized that such acts are against Canadian values and called for increased security measures and a stronger response to extremist propaganda.
The recent incidents have sparked renewed discussions on improving security around Hindu temples and enhancing efforts to combat extremist ideologies. Canadian law enforcement agencies are being urged to take proactive steps to protect all religious communities and prevent further acts of violence.
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