India’s Ministry of External Affairs says it has summoned a top Canadian diplomat in India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended a Sikh celebration in Toronto.
Mr. Trudeau attended the Khalsa Day event to mark the Sikh New Year on April 28, alongside Liberal ministers and MPs. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also participated.
Canada is home to the largest population of Sikhs outside of India, and New Delhi routinely criticizes Canada for allowing Sikh separatists to organize.
“The Government of India’s deep concern and strong protest was conveyed at such disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in its latest statement on the issue.
New Delhi accuses Canada of giving political space to “separatism, extremism and violence,” adding this impacts India-Canada relations.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) refused to confirm the summoning of Deputy High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler.
“Canada is home to a vibrant and historic Sikh community. This weekend many Canadians joined together, as did communities around the world, to celebrate Vaisakhi,“ GAC spokesperson James Emmanuel Wanki told The Epoch Times. ”The Prime Minister gathered with thousands in Toronto to mark the occasion.”
The organizers of the Toronto event, the Ontario Sikh & Gurudwara Council, didn’t respond by publication time.
Relations between Canada and India have been particularly tense since the summer. Trade deal negotiations were put on hold before Mr. Trudeau accused India in the House of Commons in September of having a hand in the June 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C.
The Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/canadian-envoy-summoned-over-separatist-slogans-at-sikh-event-attend-by-trudeau-india-5640013?ea_src=frontpage&ea_med=top-news-top-stories-0-large-0
No comments:
Post a Comment