Jaishankar Criticizes Canada for ‘Double Standards’ on Pro-Khalistan Elements
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has accused Canada of exhibiting “double standards” in its handling of pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil, particularly in relation to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit on Monday, Jaishankar pointed out that Canadian authorities have consistently dismissed India’s concerns about threats posed by these elements as matters of “freedom of expression.”
Jaishankar’s remarks come as diplomatic tensions between India and Canada continue to escalate. The relationship hit a low point in 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were linked to Nijjar’s murder outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada. India, which had already designated Nijjar as a terrorist, dismissed the accusation as “absurd.”
Diplomatic Row Over Nijjar Killing
The situation took a more serious turn last week after Canadian law enforcement sought to interrogate India’s envoy in Ottawa and five other diplomats, labeling them as “persons of interest” in the Nijjar case. In response, India withdrew the diplomats—while Canada claimed they were expelled—and reciprocated by expelling six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.
Jaishankar criticized Canada’s actions, saying, “Canada asked us to subject our high commissioner to a police inquiry… and we chose to withdraw the high commissioner and other diplomats.” He further highlighted the inconsistency in Canada’s stance, noting that while Indian diplomats are targeted for gathering security information, Canadian diplomats face no such restrictions when collecting information on India’s military and police.
This latest spat reflects the deepening rift between the two nations over how to address the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada.
