India-Canada row top developments: ‘Deeply concerned’ with allegations raised by PM Trudeau, says US
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday said Washington was “deeply concerned” about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations against the Indian government in connection with the death of a Khalistani Separatist leader and is closely working on the issue with Ottawa and wants to see “accountability” in this matter.
“Let me say a few things about this. First, we are deeply concerned about the allegations that Prime Minister Trudeau has raised,” the top US diplomat said.
During a Friday press conference, Blinken added that the US has been in direct contact with the Indian government on this issue and completion of the investigation would be most productive.
He further said, “The most productive thing that can happen now is to see this investigation move forward, be completed. We would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well.” “We are extremely vigilant about any instances of alleged transnational repression, something we take very seriously and it’s important for the international system that any country that might consider engaging in such acts not do so. It’s something that we’re also focused on in a much broader way.”
#WATCH | On the India-Canada row, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says “We are deeply concerned about the allegations that Canadian PM Trudeau has raised. We have been consulting very closely with our Canadian colleagues, and coordinating with them on this issue. From our… pic.twitter.com/jQA4ctG71v
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023
Canada NSA met Doval before, during Trudeau trip to Delhi; US says in touch with both govts
Meanwhile, the Deccan Era has learnt that during the last month or so, Jody Thomas, the National Security and Intelligence Advisor of Canada, made two visits to India. In August, Thomas attended a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, along with other high-ranking officials from the intelligence establishment. Later in the month, she accompanied Trudeau to the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, where she also had a separate meeting with Doval.
Early this week, tensions flared between India and Canada after Trudeau alleged that Indian agents were “potentially” involved in killing Khalistani extremist Nijjar in British Columbia on June 18.
Trudeau claims he had discussed the allegations with India for weeks and collaborated with allies in a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In response to a question, Trudeau stated that Canada is working with India to establish the facts on the situation and urging them to commit constructively. “We’re there to work with them. And we have been for weeks now,” the Canadian PM said.
Canadian ministers & politicians denounce ‘online hate video’ against Hindus but mum on pro-Khalistani outfit
Top federal officials and politicians in Canada have denounced a viral video allegedly shared by a pro-Khalistan group threatening Hindus in Canada to leave the country. The government body and the politicians, however, have not singled out the video by name, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister of public safety, democratic institutions, and intergovernmental affairs, said that the “circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians.” LeBlanc, wrote in a post on X, “There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear.” The video showed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of the pro-Khalistan group, Sikh for Justice, and a lawyer based in New York, openly asking Hindus from Canada to “go back to India.” Even the Public Safety Department of Canada called the video “offensive and hateful,” the report by the country’s public broadcaster said.
All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. The circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians. There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear.
— Dominic LeBlanc (@DLeBlancNB) September 21, 2023
The Department said in a post on X, “Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation, or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us.” “We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities,” the CBC said, further quoting the Department’s post on X.
1/2 : There is no place in Canada for hate. The circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave Canada is offensive and hateful, and is an affront to all Canadians and the values we hold dearly.
— Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) September 22, 2023
The video surfaced days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the claims on September 18 that Indian agents could have played a role in killing Khalistani extremists.
In 2014, five years before Nijjar was designated as a “terrorist”, an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued against him, and the Indian authorities informed the Canadian authorities that he had been charged with over a dozen murder and terrorist crimes in India. The Deccan Era has learnt that despite this, sources in the intelligence agencies said Canada took no action against him, other than placing him on a no-fly list.
The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed Trudeau’s accusation as “absurd and motivated”. It stated that he had made similar allegations during his meeting with the PM, which were “completely rejected”.
With inputs from PTI and ANI.
