India denies Trudeau’s claim of substantive discussion with Modi.
India has refuted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of a substantive discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their brief exchange on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. Trudeau had stated that he raised concerns about the “safety of Canadians” in the conversation. However, Indian officials clarified that no such substantive discussion took place between the two leaders. The encounter was described as a casual interaction, not a formal dialogue. This statement comes amid ongoing tensions between India and Canada, following diplomatic disputes over accusations concerning the Khalistani movement and interference in internal matters.
India Denies Substantive Talks Between PM Modi and Trudeau at ASEAN Summit
India has strongly refuted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of a substantive conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a brief encounter on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos. This response comes after Trudeau told the media that he raised concerns about the “safety of Canadians” in the discussion, alluding to the growing tensions between India and Canada following Trudeau’s accusations regarding India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The encounter between Modi and Trudeau, which Trudeau described as an opportunity to address “the work that we need to do” concerning the diplomatic row, has now been characterized by Indian officials as a casual interaction rather than a formal discussion. According to sources cited by India Today, while the two leaders did come face-to-face, “there was no substantive discussion.”
Trudeau’s Accusations and Diplomatic Fallout
The diplomatic strain between India and Canada escalated significantly in 2023 when Trudeau accused India of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and separatist leader who was shot dead in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar, who had been wanted by Indian authorities for years due to his involvement in terrorist activities, was living in Canada under asylum. His death triggered a wave of accusations from the Canadian government, with Trudeau making the explosive claim that India had a role in the killing on Canadian soil, leading to a diplomatic standoff.
India has categorically denied any involvement in Nijjar’s death and condemned Trudeau’s statements as baseless. India also expressed deep concern over Canada’s growing support for anti-India Khalistani activities and the perceived inaction of the Canadian government in addressing extremism on its soil.
India’s Position: No Substantive Talks, Concerns Over Extremism in Canada
In response to Trudeau’s latest remarks following the ASEAN summit, Indian officials once again reiterated that their concerns are centered around the unchecked rise of Khalistani extremism and violence in Canada. Government sources pointed out that while India values its bilateral relationship with Canada, the ties cannot be repaired unless Canada takes strict and verifiable action against those who propagate anti-India activities and support extremism.
Indian officials also raised concerns about the growing nexus between extremist groups in Canada and organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. This nexus, they stressed, not only poses a threat to India but also to Canada’s internal security. “This should be a concern for Canada as well,” the sources added, highlighting that the proliferation of extremism in Canada could have broader negative repercussions.
Canada’s Role in the Khalistan Movement
The issue of the Khalistan movement—a separatist movement that seeks to establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India—has been a longstanding point of contention between India and Canada. While the movement has largely lost traction in India, it continues to find support among certain segments of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, where some groups have openly advocated for violence and extremism against India. This has led to deep diplomatic friction, with India repeatedly urging Canada to take stronger action against these groups.
Despite these appeals, Indian officials feel that Canada has failed to address the issue adequately. The perception in India is that the Canadian government has been reluctant to crack down on Khalistani activities due to the political influence of pro-Khalistan groups within Canada’s Sikh community, which represents a significant voting bloc, particularly in regions such as Ontario and British Columbia.
India has consistently expressed concern over events and rallies in Canada that glorify Khalistani terrorists and promote anti-India rhetoric. The Indian government has cited these activities as dangerous not only to India’s security but also to the harmony between communities in Canada.
Future of India-Canada Relations
The escalating tensions between India and Canada have led to a cooling of diplomatic relations, with both countries expelling diplomats in 2023 as the dispute over Nijjar’s killing unfolded. The current standoff presents a significant challenge for future India-Canada ties, with Indian officials making it clear that any path to normalizing relations must involve Canada taking decisive action against those who promote extremism and violence.
Indian sources emphasized that while India is keen to maintain strong bilateral relations, “the ties cannot be repaired unless the Canadian government takes strict and verifiable action against those who
The ball is now in Canada’s court, as India has made its stance clear: addressing the issue of Khalistani extremism is a precondition for repairing the strained relationship. Failure to do so could result in prolonged diplomatic tensions, with both countries likely to face economic and political repercussions.
Conclusion
The ongoing diplomatic spat between India and Canada shows no signs of easing, as both countries remain firm in their positions. India has categorically denied any substantive discussion between Modi and Trudeau at the ASEAN Summit, underscoring that Trudeau’s claim of raising concerns about the “safety of Canadians” did not lead to a meaningful dialogue. India’s focus remains on urging Canada to take stronger action against Khalistani extremism and its associated criminal activities, which continue to threaten not only India’s security but also Canada’s stability.
As the two nations navigate this delicate diplomatic situation, the future of their relationship hangs in the balance, contingent upon Canada’s willingness to address India’s concerns about extremism and terrorism emanating from Canadian soil.