The India-Canada relationship has stabilised and is strengthening once again after taking a nosedive following the controversy over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, but some concerns still remain.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV’s Vishnu Som on Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said her country takes law and justice seriously and also addressed the issue of Khalistani slogans being raised in various places.
“Underpinning all of this work is a national security dialogue at the highest levels in which we stress the importance of the rule of law and domestic security considerations,” the minister said.
We have signed a declaration, the leaders are meeting and PM Modi will be visiting Canada for the second time,” the minister said. “There is, in Canada, a public safety dialogue and I know the Minister of Public Safety is very engaged. But at the same time, there are rights relating to expression in Canada and so there is a balance to be struck there, and I know the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Justice are doing that work. “If you take a look at the relationship as a whole, it has improved. We have staffed up embassies.
Because of the changing geopolitical environment and the need for Canada to double non-US trade over the next 10 years, these steps, she asserted, are made even more necessary.
The minister said significant progress has been made with the Indian government and Canada has also listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity. My focus is on Canada’s external relationships in an era where the United States has become more protectionist,” she said. Anand said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney values his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi very deeply and is looking forward to welcoming him to Canada in December.
