'Freedom of speech doesn't mean..support separatism': Jaishankar on Canada
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has voiced his concerns over the Canadian government's approach toward Khalistani separatist elements. In a recent interview with PTI, he criticized Canada for providing political space to these groups. He claimed that anytime India brings up the Khalistan issue with the Canadians, they always say, "We have freedom of speech." He suggested that this is sending a message that its vote bank is "more powerful" than its rule of law.
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Jaishankar's remarks came amid strained relations between India and Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in June of last year. While Canada has accused India of being involved in the killing of Nijjar, the Indian government has accused the Justin Trudeau government of harboring separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements. In India, Nijjar was labeled a terrorist and wanted in several cases, including the 2007 blast in Ludhiana, which killed six people and injured 42 others.
Jaishankar questions Canada's immigration policies
During the interview, Jaishankar also questioned how individuals with questionable backgrounds, specifically Khalistani supporters among Sikh immigrants from Punjab, are allowed to enter and reside in Canada. He stated, "In any rules-based society, you would imagine that you would check people's background, how they came, what passport they carried etc." The Indian diaspora in Canada numbers roughly 1.8 million people. The diaspora, largely of Sikh ethnicity, is regarded as an influential bloc in Canadian politics.
Jaishankar regrets direction of Canadian politics
Jaishankar also expressed regret over the direction of Canadian politics, where he believes separatist and extremist forces have been given political space. He said, "And there are people in positions of prominence today in Canadian politics who actually espouse that kind of separatism and extremism." "We cannot for the good relations overlook that," he said during the interview at PTI's headquarters.
Jaishankar criticizes Canada's response to India's concerns
The external affairs minister further said that Canada's response to India's concerns has always centered around the notion of freedom of speech. "We also have freedom of speech in our country.But freedom of speech does not mean freedom to threaten foreign diplomats, freedom of speech does not mean the kind of positions and the kind of activities which people in Canada are doing which does harm to our country because of its support for separatism," Jaishankar said.
