Alarming: Canadian Authorities Accused of Granting Extremists Free Reign, Indian Minister Claims

India's Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has accused Canada of providing support to terrorists and extremists. He refuted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claims that the Indian government may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Jaishankar stated that Canada's allegations were not in line with India's policy, both privately and publicly.

The Indian minister stated that India was willing to further investigate the event if the Canadian government provided specific and relevant information. However, the minister noted that the strained relations between the two countries existed before Trudeau's allegations. Last week, Trudeau claimed that his authorities were examining credible allegations of a possible connection between government agents of India and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a vocal advocate for the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland that would encompass parts of Punjab state in India.

India views calls for Khalistan as a significant threat to its national security. Despite this, it has strongly rejected Trudeau's assertions, dismissing them as "absurd and driven by ulterior motives." As a result of the escalating dispute, both countries have expelled each other's diplomats.

However, Jaishankar stated on Friday that the disagreements extend beyond the recent controversy surrounding Nijjar's demise. He highlighted that the Indian government has long criticized Canada for its perceived lack of action in addressing Sikh separatist extremism, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh homeland.

Jaishankar accused Canada of possessing a lenient attitude towards terrorists and extremists who openly promote violence. According to him, these individuals have found refuge in Canada due to political constraints.

The Sikh community in Canada, one of the largest outside India with over 770,000 members, was shocked and angered by Nijjar's death. Certain groups associated with the Khalistan concept are designated as "terrorist organizations" according to India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), but various Sikh organizations abroad have criticized the Indian government for unjustly linking them to terrorism.

The US position

Nijjars is listed as one of the UAPA terrorists. In 2020, the Indian National Investigation Agency lodged allegations against him, asserting that he was actively attempting to radicalize the global Sikh community to support the establishment of Khalistan.

Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Thursday at the State Department. Both diplomats remained silent during a short photo opportunity before the meeting. Nonetheless, on Friday, a spokesperson from the State Department revealed that Blinken urged his Indian counterpart to fully cooperate with the current Canadian investigation into the murder.

The US ambassador to Canada verified that intelligence obtained through the "Five Eyes" alliance, comprising the US, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia, was instrumental in Canada's public allegation concerning the potential involvement of the Indian government in Nijjar's demise. During a separate press briefing on Friday, Blinken emphasized the imperative of holding those accountable for the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.

"We have reached out to the Indian government and urged them to collaborate with Canada in conducting an investigation. I had the chance to reiterate this request during my meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Jaishankar," expressed Blinken during a joint press conference alongside Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena, and Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro.

Blinken expressed his optimism, stating, "I hope that our allies in both Canada and India will join forces to find a resolution to this issue."

Jaishankar also mentioned that he had discussed the issue with Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, and Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State.

"We exchanged our opinions and assessments regarding this entire situation," said Jaishankar. "I believe that through these meetings, we have made progress and are moving forward in a positive direction."

"Currently, I am facing a concerning situation where my diplomats face threats when visiting the embassy or consulate in Canada. They are subjected to public intimidation. As a result, I have been forced to temporarily halt visa operations in Canada," the minister explained.

No individuals have been apprehended by Canadian authorities in relation to Nijjar's homicide.

But in an August update, police released a statement saying they were investigating three suspects and issued a description of a possible getaway vehicle, asking for the publics help.