Canada Must Act Against Those Demanding India’s Balkanisation: Modi Govt

Canadian authorities must take "prompt and effective action against anti-India elements" operating from its soil, Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Kirti Vardhan Singh, told Indian Parliament's Rajya Sabha (Upper House) during the Question Hour on Thursday.

Responding to an 'unstarred question' from Member of Parliament (MP) Parimal Nathwani, Singh remarked that India has had and continued to have a "challenging relationship" with Canada due to the political space provided by Ottawa to secessionist elements who espoused an anti-India agenda and carried out "violent activities".

The minister asserted that "respect for each other’s concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty" were essential for a stable bilateral relationship between India and Canada.

"This includes preventing secessionist and extremist elements from glorifying the assassination of our leaders; issuing threats to our current political leadership and diplomats; disrespecting and vandalising places of worship; and espousing for the balkanisation of India by holding so-called referendums," Singh stated.

Further, the MEA stated that, although, the Canadian authorities were able to provide security protection to Indian diplomats and diplomatic properties, they had expressed "inability" to provide security cover to Indian consular camps, which have been threatened by pro-Khalistani secessionists and extremists.

"This has prevented our diplomats and consular officers to render much-sought after consular and passport-related services at camps specially organised with the help of the community members for the benefit of Indian as well as Canadian citizens, particularly senior citizens, retirees, who seek life certificates to get their pensions," the minister highlighted.

While responding to a question on whether India's growing global "importance" and its "close relations" with Russia influenced the recent developments in relations with Canada, Singh stressed that each of India's bilateral relationships is based on its own merit and is independent of its ties with other nations.

"Our approach towards engagement with our international partners has always been constructive and sincere with emphasis on mutual trust, respect and understanding of each other’s concerns," the minister told the Parliament.

Providing an update on India-Canada economic and people-to-people ties, Singh highlighted that around 4.7% of Canada's population is of Indian-origin, with India also being a leading source of international students for the country. Therefore, the welfare, safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada are of paramount importance to the Government of India, he said.

"The India-Canada bilateral trade is $9.36 billion (2023), with India’s exports to Canada at $5.56 billion and imports from Canada at $3.8 billion. On the investment side, India’s share of Canadian Pension Funds is estimated at about 25% of their Asia-Pacific investment portfolio. Canada is the 17th largest investor in India with a cumulative FDI of $3.9 billion," the minister stated, as he gave a snapshot of economies ties.

In response to another question on India-Canada ties from MP John Brittas, Singh remarked that Canada's categorisation of India as a cyber threat adversary was yet another example of the country's "negative approach" towards India.

Significantly, the MEA underlined that Indian consular officials in Vancouver continue to remain under audio and video surveillance of Canadian agencies, who have also intercepted their private communications.

The Government of India lodged a strong protest with the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on this issue through its Note Verbale dated 2 November, as these actions were a flagrant violation of all diplomatic provisions, Singh informed the Parliament, adding that the MEA spokesperson had already raised concerns on the harassment and intimidation of Indian officials.

Indian diplomatic and consular staff in Canada were already functioning in an "environment of extremism and violence" and that Ottawa's illegal surveillance of Indian diplomats aggravated the situation and was incompatible with established international norms, Singh stated.

Indian diplomatic and consular staff in Canada were already functioning in an "environment of extremism and violence," and Ottawa's illegal surveillance of Indian diplomats had aggravated the situation, making it incompatible with established international norms, Singh stated.

Canada-India Row

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Canada Must Act Against Those Demanding India’s Balkanisation: MEA