India gave a befitting response to the Canadian Govt : EAM Dr S Jaishankar

Pune – “India had initially raised concerns about organised crime in Canada, but the issue was overlooked due to a long-standing permissive atmosphere. We completely reject the manner in which the Canadian Government targeted our High Commissioner and diplomats. India gave a befitting response. When there is a question of India’s national interest, integrity or sovereignty, India takes strict steps,” said India’s Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar. He was speaking at an event here.

“The issue is that there is a small minority of people over there, but they have made themselves into what appears to be a bigger political voice. Unfortunately, the politics of that country is giving that political lobby, perhaps a degree of play which I would argue is not just bad for us and our relationship. I would argue it is bad for Canada itself. A country which we consider a friendly democratic country has stabbed India in the back and has adopted a very unprofessional attitude. We could have tried to find a satisfactory solution,” Dr Jaishankar added.

Agreement on Indo-China border due to 2 reasons; not all issues resolved yet

On the agreement between India and China to patrol the Line of Actual Control, Jaishankar said that the Government of India has acted by sticking to its word. There are 2 reasons why we are where we are today. First, we didn’t go back on our word. This was possible only because the army stood firm at every opportunity to protect the country. The army did its job. Second, diplomacy worked. This agreement does not mean that the problems between the two countries have been resolved; but we have succeeded in achieving the first phase of withdrawal. Of course, it will take time to rebuild trust and work together again. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia for the BRICS summit, it was decided that the Foreign Ministers and National Security Advisors of both countries would meet to decide how to proceed.

‘Canada stabbed India in the back’ : Former High Commissioner of India to Canada Sanjay Verma

The former High Commissioner of India in Canada, Sanjay Verma, while objecting to the recent actions of Canada, said that “A democratic country has stabbed us in the back,” in an interview given to the PTI. Verma spoke about the origins of the Khalistani movement in Canada, the support it received from local politicians for electoral gains, etc. He also alleged that Khalistanis engage in criminal activities to increase their number.