India鈥檚 envoy to Canada says he is satisfied the federal government is adequately protecting his country鈥檚 diplomats, after New Delhi raised concerns for their safety earlier this year.
Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma also says he鈥檚 optimistic both countries can circumvent heated diaspora politics to form closer ties.
鈥淔reedom has both sides of the coin, and it鈥檚 a delicate balance, which has to be maintained by society,鈥� Verma told The Canadian Press in a wide-ranging interview Aug. 31.
Canada and India have disagreed for years about Ottawa鈥檚 response to a long-standing Indian separatist movement that has supporters across this country but things escalated earlier this year when police were asked to investigate alleged death threats against Indian diplomats in Canada.
Those threats arose following the murder of a gurdwara leader in Surrey, B.C., which some in the Sikh community say was a politically motivated attack.
Police said they have no evidence of any links to foreign interference and had no reason to believe the Sikh community in Canada is at risk. But following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the U.S.-based group Sikhs for Justice called on supporters in Canada to 鈥渂esiege鈥� India鈥檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats. Some posters called on people to 鈥淜ill India,鈥� while others refer to Verma and his consuls general as killers.
India then formally called on Canada to better uphold its duty to protect foreign diplomats. Verma said the issue surrounded not only threats, but large protests that blocked access to the building.
鈥淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin. There is a reward on my head today by the Khalistani terrorists, and when I look at that, I say, 鈥業f that is freedom of expression, I do not know which world I鈥檓 living in,鈥欌�� Verma said last week.
鈥淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn鈥檛 it restrict my movement? So where is my freedom to move freely in this country?鈥� he said.
He said however 鈥渨e feel very satisfied鈥� Canada responded appropriately to the request for better protection.
鈥淥ur concerns have been taken on board. It has been well understood,鈥� Verma said.
The Khalistani separatist movement advocates for part of the Indian state of Punjab to become an independent country, but the Indian government perceives this as an extremist movement that endangers national security. India has long accused Canada of harbouring extremists, while Ottawa has continually maintained that freedom of speech means groups can voice political opinions if they don鈥檛 use violence.
Nijjar鈥檚 death came after additional strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries this spring.
In March, Canadian members of Parliament from various parties expressed concerns about free speech in India, after authorities there restricted the internet and limited gatherings, while they searched for a Sikh leader following the violent storming of a police station. That crackdown also sparked a rowdy March 23 protest outside India鈥檚 High Commission in Ottawa.
In June, Trudeau鈥檚 national security adviser Jody Thomas said India was among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada, a public designation Ottawa has largely limited to authoritarian states.
Then videos emerged of a parade in Brampton, Ont., that included a float that portrayed the 1984 assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards. Organizers said the float was part of a parade honouring those who died while pursuing Khalistan independence. Gandhi鈥檚 assassination followed her authorization of a military standoff that killed Sikh militants and sparked deadly riots, which killed thousands.
But officials in both countries said the parade float glorified violence. India鈥檚 foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar argued the incident showed Ottawa鈥檚 lax approach to extremism, adding that it hurts the bilateral relationship.
The Business Council of Canada fears the Khalistan issue is putting a chill on years-long attempts for both countries to sign a trade deal. It also comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to visit New Delhi this week for the G20 leaders鈥� summit.
Canada has paused ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement, but federal Trade Minister Mary Ng said the pause is only 鈥渁 reflection to take stock of where are.鈥�
鈥淭rade agreements are complex and there are many things that go into that,鈥� she said in Jakarta where she is travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Verma said India wants Nijjar鈥檚 murder 鈥渋nvestigated to the fullest.鈥�
鈥淭hose who have committed this grievous injury should be punished according to Canadian law,鈥� Verma said.
鈥淎s a private individual, I felt hurt that a person was killed. And when I look at the reasons there could be many, and these reasons may not necessarily be only Khalistan-driven.鈥�
Verma said India does not expect Canada to forbid anyone from expressing support for Khalistan, saying freedom of speech is a 鈥渜uintessential pillar鈥� for both countries.
He stressed that it wouldn鈥檛 be appropriate for a foreign diplomat to tell Canada what to do, but he suggested Ottawa could do more.
鈥淥ur expectation is that all countries in the world understand our sensitivity, that if those people are supported from foreign lands, who want India to be fragmented, not to remain an integrated India, will have our concerns. These sensitivities are well known globally, including in Canada,鈥� he said.
Nadir Patel, Canada鈥檚 former high commissioner to India, said in an interview that Khalistan is 鈥渁 significant irritant鈥� that has been long-standing in the relationship, but said both countries can probably find 鈥渁 pragmatic reality鈥� to surmount the issue.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that both sides, not one or the other 鈥� listen to each other鈥檚 perspectives and concerns a trying to understand,鈥� said Patel, a senior strategic adviser with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada.
He suggested cabinet ministers from both countries navigate the issue by ensuring freedom of expression, while undertaking 鈥済reater co-operation within existing frameworks between our security agencies.鈥�
READ ALSO:
