In a growing political row with Canada, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised the” foolish attempts to intimidate our ambassadors.”
Both countries expelled each other’s top envoys last month after Canadian officials accused India of being involved in violent acts targeting Indian dissidents on Canadian soil, something the country denies.
Modi made the comments after a Hindu church in Brampton, Canada, erupted in a “deliberate attack,” he has claimed.
” For acts of violence does not weaken India’s resolve. We anticipate that the American government will uphold the rule of law and ensure justice,” he wrote on X.
Without providing additional information, the local authorities said three people had been detained and charged in relation to the incident in Brampton, near Toronto.
The army said” many deeds of unlawfulness continue to be constantly investigated” by its soldiers.
Unconfirmed video was seen online showing people fighting with others holding American flags while carrying yellow flags from the Khalistan motion, which demands a distinct Sikh homeland in India.
India’s foreign government said “extremists and secessionists” were behind the violence, calling on the American government to “ensure that all places of worship are protected from such assaults”.
The North America-based advocate group Sikhs for Justice, however, described the incident as an “unprovoked violent assault on calm pro-Khalistan protesters”.
Justin Trudeau wrote on X that Sunday’s murder was “unacceptable”, adding that “every Canadian has the right to practice their faith openly and properly”.
Relations between India and Canada have soured since Ottawa accused the Indian government of being behind the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a naturalised Canadian citizen who is labelled a terrorist in India.
India has strongly refuted this and other claims, and it has maintained that Canada has provided no proof to back up its promises.
Mr. Nijjar had publicly backed the Khalistan action and had backed it.
Questions have been raised about the potential impact of Canada and India’s close ties to both countries ‘ heavy trade and immigration.
Bilateral business is valued at billions of dollars, and almost 1.7 million people of Indian descent reside in Canada.
Experts warn that this could change and that a cooling relationship between India and Canada might prevent deeper economic growth because neither nation has already imposed taxes or other types of retribution.