Bharat formally protested to Canada concerning the actions of Khalistani extremists, which included organising a “citizens court” and burning an effigy of the Prime Minister outside the Bharatiya consulate in Vancouver, as confirmed by authoritative sources.
In a diplomatic note verbale to the Canadian high commission, Bharat expressed serious objections to these incidents, highlighting its dismay over the Canadian Government’s tolerance of Khalistani separatist activities on its soil.
The protest follows a controversial “moment of silence” in the Canadian Parliament for Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in Surrey, British Columbia, last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent brief interaction with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit occurred amid strained bilateral relations exacerbated by Trudeau’s unsubstantiated allegations linking Indian agents to Nijjar’s death, which Bharat dismissed as baseless.
Bharat has consistently raised concerns about Canada providing political space to anti-Bharat elements advocating extremism and violence. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra reiterated Bharat’s expectation that Ottawa take decisive measures against such elements during a recent statement.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a terrorist by Bharat, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18, 2023. The investigation into his murder is being conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
