India accuses Canada of harboring extremism as diplomatic rift deepens

Sydney, Australia, Nov 5 (EFE) – India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, accused Canada on Tuesday of providing “political space” for “extremist voices” after an alleged attack on a Hindu temple in Canada by supporters of an independent Sikh homeland.

India lodged a formal protest over the reported vandalism of the temple in Brampton, Ontario, over the weekend, during which protesters carrying yellow flags, symbolizing Sikh separatist support, disrupted a consular event organized by the temple and the Indian Consulate.

Images and videos of the vandalized temple circulated on social media, including a post by Chandra Arya, a Canadian MP of Indian origin and member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, who attributed the attack to Sikh separatist supporters.

“What happened…at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning,” Jaishankar told reporters at a joint press conference in Canberra with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

The India-Canada diplomatic rift has deepened since Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau alleged last year that credible evidence linked the Indian government to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Nijjar, a Canadian national and vocal proponent of the Khalistan movement for an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, in India’s Punjab, had been charged with terrorism by India.

Jaishankar said Canada had “developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics” and added, “the fact that…our diplomats are under surveillance in Canada is unacceptable.”

He said the social media videos of the alleged attack on the temple highlighted “in a way the political space today which is being given to extremist voices there.”

“We believe in freedoms, we also believe freedom should not be abused.”

Jaishankar said the issue came up in his talks with Wong.

In her remarks, Wong confirmed that she had discussed the Canada-India dispute with Jaishankar.

“We have made clear our concerns about the allegations under investigation. We have said that we respect Canada’s judicial process,” Wong said.

“We convey our views to India as you would expect us to do. And we have a principle position in relation to matters such as the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and also frankly the sovereignty of all countries.” EFE

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