In the thick of strained relations between India and Canada, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent “brief” conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has garnered considerable attention. On Friday, October 11, the two leaders had a meeting during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos.
Trudeau stated that he informed PM Modi that there are “real issues” they need to solve. However, New Delhi has refuted any claims of the two leaders having a “substantive discussion” between them.
Relations between India and Canada have been deteriorating since Trudeau linked the Indian government to the murder of Khalistan rebel Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, last year. At that time, New Delhi dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Justin Trudeau’s Take on The Meet with PM Modi
As per the reports of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News), Trudeau publicly mentioned his meeting with PM Modi, describing it as a “brief exchange” with his Indian counterpart in Laos. Although the Canadian leader did not disclose the discussion he had with PM Modi, he told the media how ‘upholding the rule of law’ is a ‘fundamental responsibility.’
Trudeau said, “I won’t go into details about what we talked about but what I’ve said many times is that the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law, is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any Canadian government and that’s what I’ll stay focused on.”
Adding further to his statement Trudeau said that Canada must “continue to develop our trade ties and our people-to-people connections,” but also stressed that there are major issues that need to be addressed, promising “we’re going to stay focused on that.”
How did India Respond to this?
New Delhi, however, denied the statements stating that no “substantive discussion” took place between the leaders.
According to sources who spoke with ThePrint, the relations between New Delhi and Ottawa “cannot be repaired” unless the Canadian government takes “strict and verifiable action” against those who “actively engage in anti-India activities and conspire to promote hate, disinformation, communal disharmony, and violence both in India and Canada.”
Sources indicated that New Delhi continues to expect that “anti-India Khalistani activities will not be permitted on Canadian soil” and that decisive action (presently lacking), will be taken against those advocating violence, extremism, and terrorism against India from Canadian territory. They also cautioned Ottawa concerning the “rising nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates, and human trafficking, which should be a concern for Canada as well.”
Tensions Between India and Canada
In September 2023, Trudeau reported to the House of Commons that his administration was investigating the “credible allegations” regarding connections between Indian officials and the assassination of New Delhi-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot dead outside of a gurdwara in Surrey, on June 18, 2023.
The Canadian Minister’s charges ignited a major diplomatic spat between Ottawa and New Delhi. Tensions heightened further as both nations responded with tit-for-tat, resulting in the dismissal of their top envoys.
Following the New Delhi’s demand for “parity” in diplomatic representation, Canada was compelled to recall its 40 diplomats from India. In response, India temporarily halted the granting of visas to Canadian citizens. Even though these diplomatic situations were settled recently, the relations between the two nations remain tensed.
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Naina Jaggi is an author deeply rooted in Journalism, mainly writing on lifestyle, entertainment, travel, politics and financial markets. This diverse experience has allowed her to blend rich details with engaging narratives that capture the essence of various worlds. When she is not crafting tales, you’ll find her immersed in music and enjoying the company of dogs. She is also into K-dramas, thriller and horror movies that fuel her imagination, bringing the same spark to her stories.
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