New Delhi: Amid reverberating chants of “Khalistan Zindabad” at an event for the Sikh community organised Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured the community that his government would always protect their rights and defend them against hatred of any kind.
Addressing a celebration of the Khalsa Day in Toronto, Trudeau said the government was enhancing the security infrastructure programme at gurdwaras with that very aim. “To the nearly 8,00,000 of Sikh heritage across this country, we will always be there to protect your rights and your freedoms and we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination,” he said at the programme commemorating the founding of the Sikh religion in 1699.
Trudeau added: “That is why we are enhancing the security infrastructure programme by adding more security at community centres and places of worship including in gurudwaras. Your right to practise your religion freely and without intimidation is exactly that – a fundamental right guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that we will always stand up and defend you for.”
His comments drew much cheer at the event which is one of the largest annual gatherings of Sikhs in Canada. A raft of national leaders were also present with Trudeau, including his ally Jagmeet Singh, who heads the New Democratic Party, and leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs Monday summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner to strongly protest against the pro-Khalistani chants “being allowed to continue unchecked” at the Toronto celebrations addressed by Trudeau.
“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,” said the MEA in its statement.
Diplomatic ties between Canada and India touched a new low last year after Trudeau claimed in Parliament that probe agencies were investigating “credible allegations” of a link between agents of the government of India and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The India-designated terrorist was shot dead by unknown assailants at a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on 18 June last year.
India rejected the Canadian government’s allegations as “absurd and motivated”, and urged for “parity” in diplomatic representation, which led to Canada removing 41 diplomats and their dependents from the country.
The allegations made by Trudeau sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries that eventually saw the Indian government temporarily suspend visas from Canada due to threats to the security of diplomatic staff.
During his speech on Sunday, Trudeau also announced that the Canadian and Indian governments had agreed to “add more flights and more routes” between the two countries and promised to continue working on ensuring direct flights to Amritsar.
Speaking after Trudeau, Poilievre raised the spectre of more “assassinations” in the country, as the crowd continued to shout “Khalistan Zindabad”.
“There is so much suffering today in Canada. Everything is broken… Crime, chaos, drugs and disorders, extortions, car thefts and even assassinations without any criminal charges going ahead whatsoever. People have not felt so endangered as they have now,” Poilievre said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)