Responding to a question on the common media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned that Canada mustn’t change into a protected haven for those concerned in terror actions.
Asking Canada to take action against those facing charges associated to terrorism, India on Thursday mentioned that Ottawa’s response to its requests for extradition of anti-India components has not been useful. Responding to a question on the common media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned that Canada mustn’t change into a protected haven for those concerned in terror actions.
“Safe haven is being provided in Canada, we want the Canadian government to not do so and take action against those who have terrorism charges or send them here to face justice,” Bagchi mentioned. “We’ve sought either extradition request or assistance related to that, at least more than 20-25 individuals we’ve requested over the years but the response has not been helpful at all,” he added.
Referring to terrorism, Bachi mentioned it’s funded and supported by Pakistan. He additionally spoke of the difficulty of protected havens. “Not solely terrorism but additionally the truth that it’s funded and supported and we all know this from someday…from our western neighbours Pakistan…however the problem of protected havens, and locations to function have been offered overseas, together with in Canada…and that…you understand we’d anticipate that’s the foremost focus.
The query is: do now we have the political will to tackle terrorism or do we would like to justify it and condone it?” he asked. Visa services provider BLS International on Thursday said it has with immediate effect suspended Indian visa services in Canada.
BLS International Services Limited is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa, passport, consular, attestation and citizen services. “Due to operation reasons, with immediate effect i.e. 21 September 2023, Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended till further notice,” the company informed stock exchanges in a filing on Thursday.
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Bilateral relations between India and Canada have hit a downward spiral after Prime Minister Trudeau on Monday alleged that “Indian brokers” were behind the shooting of Hardeep Nijjar. Nijjar, chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and a “designated terrorist” was killed in a targeted shooting at British Columbia in Canada’s Surrey in June 2018.
India has rejected the allegations by the Trudeau administration, terming them “absurd” and “motivated”. “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” MEA had mentioned in an announcement.
“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law,” it added.
