New Delhi. India-Canada relations became uneasy on Monday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to a congratulatory message from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, saying India looked forward to working with Ottawa on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for “each other’s concerns”. In September last year, Trudeau had alleged that Indian agents were possibly involved in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Relations between India and Canada have been strained since then. India had rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd”.
Modi said in a post on ‘X’, “Thank you Prime Minister Trudeau for your congratulatory message. India looks forward to working with Canada in the context of our relationship based on mutual understanding and respect for each other’s concerns.” Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said on June 6, after Modi’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections, that Canada stands with the Indian government to advance relations between the people of the countries based on human rights, diversity and rule of law.
In a post on ‘X’, he said, “Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory. Canada is ready to work with his government to advance relations between the people of both countries based on human rights, diversity and rule of law.” India has been saying that the main issue between the two countries is Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements who run their activities from Canadian soil. There have also been cases of pro-Khalistani elements threatening to harm Indian diplomats.
Days after Trudeau’s allegations last year, India had asked Ottawa to reduce the number of its diplomats in the country to ensure parity. Canada later recalled 41 diplomats and their family members from India. Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year. The murder is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).