NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) on Thursday stated that the unabated funding of Canada-based Khalistani extremists from Pakistan is a a lot severe challenge amid an ongoing row over Khalistani sympathiser Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. Addressing a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the allegations made by Canada towards India are “politically pushed” with a “diploma of prejudice.”
“Amongst different points, the continuing funding of Khalistani extremists based mostly in Canada from Pakistani soil is a way more severe challenge,” the MEA official stated whereas replying to reporters. “We have knowledgeable the Govt of Canada that there ought to be parity in energy in our mutual diplomatic presence,” he added.
Whereas sustaining that Canadian diplomatic interference in India’s inner affairs is an enormous issue, the MEA official stated that there will probably be a discount of Canadian diplomats serving within the nation. “Their quantity may be very a lot greater than ours in Canada… I assume there will probably be a discount from the Canadian facet,” Bagchi stated.
Replying to a query on the suspension of visa providers in Canada, the MEA Spokesperson stated, “You’re conscious of the safety threats being confronted by our Excessive Fee and Consulates in Canada. This has disrupted their regular functioning. Accordingly, our Excessive Fee and Consulates are quickly unable to course of visa purposes. We will probably be reviewing the scenario regularly…”
Responding to the allegations made by Canada concerning the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the MEA official stated, “Canada has shared no particular intelligence on the case but.” “We’re keen to take a look at any particular data that’s offered to us, however to this point we’ve acquired no particular data from Canada. From our facet, particular proof about felony actions by people based mostly on Canadian soil has been shared with Canada however not acted upon,” Bagchi informed reporters.
On Canada’s allegations of India’s involvement in Nijar’s killing, the MEA spokesperson stated, “Sure, I do assume there’s a diploma of prejudice right here. They’ve made allegations and brought motion towards them. To us, it appears that evidently these allegations by the federal government of Canada are primarily politically pushed.”
#WATCH | On allegations by Canada, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, “Sure these allegations have been raised by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau with PM (Modi) and PM rejected them.” pic.twitter.com/FDxZ1Rc8aw
— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2023
The response from the MEA got here shortly after India on Thursday suspended the difficulty of visas to residents of Canada “until additional discover”. A discover by BLS Worldwide – a non-public company employed for preliminary scrutiny of visa purposes of Canadian nationals – stated, “On account of operational causes… Indian visa providers have been suspended until additional discover”.
On Wednesday, Indian nationals, college students in Canada and people planning on travelling to the nation have been suggested to train warning. Indian nationals and Indian college students in Canada have been suggested to keep away from travelling to areas and potential venues in Canada which have seen rising anti-India actions, based on a launch issued by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA). Indian college students in Canada have been significantly suggested to train excessive warning and stay vigilant.
The up to date journey advisory for Indian college students got here amidst a pressure in India-Canada relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday alleged that the Indian authorities was behind the deadly taking pictures of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was a delegated terrorist in India, was gunned down outdoors a Gurdwara, in a parking space in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.
Trudeau throughout a debate within the Canadian Parliament, claimed his nation’s nationwide safety officers had causes to consider that “brokers of the Indian authorities” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who additionally served because the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.
The allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and overseas minister have been rejected by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs in India which dubbed the statements as absurd.
