Indian Diplomat: India, Canada Lack Understanding on Khalistan Issue

May 8 :
According to Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Canada, the current tensions between the two nations stem from a "lack of understanding of India’s concern" on a "decades-old issue (Khalistan) that has re-emerged" in a foreign country.

At a May 7 event hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, Verma made the remarks.

"The fact that foreigners are casting a malicious eye on India's territorial integrity is a major concern for India. Foreigners will not determine India's destiny; Indians themselves will. According to the High Commissioner, Indians residing overseas who wish to have a say in India's destiny should return to their own country and cast ballots in the next elections.

He said that Prime Minister Trudeau's public words had "damaged" the ongoing Canadian police investigation into the murder.

The lack of precise or relevant information in this situation prevents us from assisting them with the investigation, Verma stated. I don't see any proof. When will this probe be over? Additionally, I would state that the probe is already tainted. Someone in charge has given the order to accuse India or Indian operatives of being responsible.

At the same time, a courtroom in British Columbia saw a brief appearance by the three men charged with the 2023 murder of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which caused a diplomatic crisis between India and Canada. Mounted police in Edmonton detained Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Preet Singh; all three are facing murder and conspiracy to murder charges.

There is a considerable Sikh population in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb, and in June 2023, 45-year-old Nijjar was shot and killed outside a Sikh temple in Surrey. An independent Sikh homeland to be established out of India, Nijjar was a Canadian citizen who fought for the establishment of Khalistan. New Delhi has long been irritated by Sikh separatist movements in Canada. Nijjar was even called a "terrorist" by New Delhi.