• Source:JND
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India on Monday summoned the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner over the raising of pro-Khalistan separatist slogans at an event that was being personally addressed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Expressing deep concern, the External Affairs Ministry said that the incident illustrates once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism, and violence. 

"The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner was today summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs with regard to the raising of separatist slogans on ‘Khalistan’ at an event which was being personally addressed by the Prime Minister of Canada. The Government of India’s deep concern and strong protest was conveyed at such disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event," MEA said in an official statement.

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"This illustrates once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence. Their continued expressions not only impact India-Canada relations but also encourage a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens," it added.

India's action came a day after loud chants of pro-Khalistan slogans were raised in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as opposition leader Pierre Poilievre on Sunday at the Khalsa Day Celebrations in Toronto on Sunday.

The India-Canada ties have witnessed a rift after the Canadian Prime Minister accused agents of the Government of India of killing Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. However, India has dismissed the accusations as "absurd" and "motivated."

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18, 2023.

(With ANI inputs)