NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over anti-India Khalistani elements operating in Canada, Communist Party of India (Marxist) said the Centre is duty-bound to protect the national interest and urged the Narendra Modi-led government to take the opposition parties into confidence.
“The activities of anti-India Khalistani elements operating in Canada have been a matter of serious concern and has a direct impact on national security. The Government of India is duty-bound to protect the national interest for which it has the support across political parties in India,” read a statement by the party on Tuesday. Releasing the statement on their social media handles, the party also urged the Government to “take the opposition parties into confidence.”
“It is to be expected that the Government of India will take the opposition parties into confidence on these issues including the allegation made about the role of the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal gang,” the statement added.
The ties between India and Canada soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a parliamentary address last year, claimed that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot in Surrey in June last year.
Earlier on Monday, India had “strongly” rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were “persons of interest” in an investigation and termed it as “preposterous imputations” and part of the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau government.
Notably, India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats hours after it summoned Canada’s Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.This move came after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats alleging they were part of an Indian government “campaign of violence.”
In a hard-hitting statement, India said Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence and his government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists “to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada. (ANI)