- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The Indian ministry of external affairs expressed dissatisfaction over Trudeau’s remarks and said they raised the issue with the government of Canada,
By: Shubham Ghosh
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday (6) spoke out on the issue of pro-Khalistan activities targeting India on his country’s soil saying Ottawa has always taken “serious action” against terrorism. He said this while rebutting criticisms that his government has not been strong enough in dealing with the Khalistan sympathisers operating in Canada. India condemned his remarks and raised the matter with the Canadian government.
The 51-year-old leader’s remarks came in response to accusations from India, which on Monday (3) summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi to express concerns over Khalistan supporters’ escalating activities in the North American country.
India’s move came just days before a scheduled pro-Khalistan rally outside the Indian Indian high commission in Ottawa on Sunday (8). Posters of the rally sympathising with slain Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and accusing two top Indian diplomats in Ottawa and Toronto over his killing became viral on social media, leading to a strong reaction from India.
“They are wrong. Canada has always taken extremely seriously violence and threats of violence. We have always taken serious action against terrorism, and we always will,” Trudeau said in a press conference, rejecting the charge that his government is soft on Khalistan supporters and terrorists.
“We have an extremely diverse country and freedom of expression is something that we value, but we will always make sure that we are pushing back against violence and extremism in all its forms,” the premier added.
Trudeau’s remarks were prompted by questions over a controversial parade that took place in the Greater Toronto Area in June. The float by Khalistan supporters marked the 39th anniversary of ‘Operation Blue Star’ in India’s Punjab and depicted the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her own Sikh bodyguards in October 1984. A poster accompanied the scene saying “Revenge of attack on Shri Darbar Sahib”.
Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has strongly criticised the incidents on Canadian soil and said the country’s responses to them seemed to be driven by vote bank politics. More recently, he asked countries such as Canada, US, UK and Australia to deny space to Khalistani activists saying such incidents would affect ties.
On Thursday, the Indian ministry of external affairs expressed dissatisfaction over Trudeau’s remarks and said they raised the issue with the government of Canada, PTI reported.
In response to Trudeau’s “freedom of expression” remark, the Indian ministry said the matter was not about freedom of expression but its misuse to advocate violence, promote separatism and legitimising terror.
(With PTI inputs)
