“We think that there are a lot of illegal channels which are being used by those Canadians of Indian origin who are trying to push for the dismemberment of India or secession from India – which is not only illegal under any international law, it is illegal under the UN charter.”
— Sanjay Kumar Verma, Indian High Commissioner to Canada
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Canada can bring back the warmth in its relations with India by stopping the funding of the Sikh independence movement that has been seeking to create an independent Khalistan, according to India’s new High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma.
Canada-India relations have been at a low for some time. In 2020, India said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was inciting “extremist activities” after he raised concerns about New Delhi’s response to farmers protesting a law they feared would leave them vulnerable to exploitation by corporations. Trudeau had said Canada would always support the right of farmers to be heard.
High Commissioner Verma said Trudeau should have picked up the phone and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he had concerns about a new law: “Should such things be done through the media? I have my doubts.”
Verma speaking to The Globe and Mail said that India was concerned about some of the people from Canada’s Sikh community offering support and money to Khalistan activists. “We think that there are a lot of illegal channels which are being used by those Canadians of Indian origin who are trying to push for the dismemberment of India or secession from India – which is not only illegal under any international law, it is illegal under the UN charter,” he said.
Was Canada one of the countries supporting Khalistan activists? Verma said: “It is difficult for me to comment. I will leave it to your interpretation.” The High Commissioner said India would like Ottawa to put a stop to illegal funding and interference in the internal affairs of India. “It goes against the foundations of bilateral relations between two countries. So I would say the sooner such tendencies are arrested, the better it will be.”
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The Trudeau government recently signalled its intentions to boost relations with India, particularly in trade through the coming Indo-Pacific strategy
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In a recent speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stressed the importance of India, where annual economic output is expected to grow from US$2.5-trillion to US$5-trillion over the next decade
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India is interested in buying Canadian critical minerals, liquefied natural gas, agricultural products and co-operating on technological innovations, the High Commissioner said
Verma emphasized that India would never support Quebec separatism.
The High Commissioner made the request after a separatist group, Sikhs for Justice, recently organized a referendum in Brampton and Mississauga, as part of a global Khalistan vote that asks the diaspora whether they support a homeland in Punjab.
Canada is home to about 770,000 who reported Sikhism as their religion in the last census, comprising 2.1 per cent of the population. A small but influential number of these Sikhs support the idea of Khalistan.
Although Canada has said that it respected India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Verma said New Delhi would like to see Canada speak out more forcefully on the issue. “I would certainly like the government of Canada, including at the leadership level, to talk about the illegality of such processes, the illegality of such movements based out of the geography of Canada.”
Verma also expressed concern about Jagmeet Singh, who before becoming NDP Leader in 2017 had participated in events where Sikh extremists denounced India and called for an independent Khalistan. In a recent Punjabi interview with a Vancouver radio station, Singh had said people “have the right to seek freedom” and self-determination when asked about the Sikh independence movement.
When asked about Singh’s past involvement in Khalistan events, the High Commissioner said: “I would say such things should be avoided by anyone, including a public figure.”
Incidentally, the Trudeau government recently signalled its intentions to boost relations with India, particularly in trade through the coming Indo-Pacific strategy. In a recent speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stressed the importance of India, where annual economic output is expected to grow from US$2.5-trillion to US$5-trillion over the next decade.
India is interested in buying Canadian critical minerals, liquefied natural gas, agricultural products and co-operating on technological innovations, the High Commissioner said.
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