The Centre has informed the Parliament that Canada has provided “no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations” claiming that Indian citizens were involved in crimes committed in the country.
Today Congress MP Manish Tewari asked the government in the Lok Sabha,Parliament whether it has taken note of the development in the US and Canada over alleged criminal activity involving Indians, to which Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry, Kirti Vardhan Singh said, Government is aware of the allegations about the involvement of Indian nationals in purported acts or intent in the US and Canada. As part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States, certain inputs shared by the US side pertaining to the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others that impinge on India’s national security interests as well are being examined by a High-Level Enquiry Committee that has been constituted for this purpose he added.”In so far as Canada is concerned, it has presented no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations it has chosen to level,” the minister informed the Parliament.
Congress MP further asked the Centre about the impact of these allegations on our bilateral relations with the US and Canada; whether the government engaged with the countries diplomatically and the measures taken by the Centre to ensure the safety and security of Indian citizens in the countries in case of “any potential fallout of these matters”.Mr Singh in his reply said, “In addition, its public narrative on this issue appears to be in service of an anti-India separatist agenda. Persisting with such a narrative can only be harmful for any stable bilateral relationship. Government have therefore repeatedly requested the Canadian authorities to take action against anti-India elements operating from their soil.”