The Biden Administration has engaged with the Indian government urging them to cooperate with <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> in its investigations into the death of a Khalistani separatist, a US State Department official has said. Bilateral ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s allegations of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hardeep-Singh-Nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword> in British Columbia in June. India has rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. The issue of the killing of Nijjar in Canada was raised by Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his meeting with External Affairs Minister <keyword id="491850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="s-jaishankar" source="Orion">S Jaishankar</keyword> here last week. "As he made clear then, I'll reiterate now, we remain in close coordination with our Canadian colleagues on this question," State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller told reporters on Monday at his daily news conference in response to a question raised by a Pakistani journalist. "We have engaged with the Indian government on a number of occasions to urge them to cooperate with Canada's investigation. The secretary had an opportunity to do that in his meeting with the foreign minister on Friday," he said. When asked if India has agreed to cooperate with Canada, Miller said this is for New Delhi to respond to. "I will let the Indian government speak for themselves and I will speak for the United States government, and we urge that cooperation," he said. Jaishankar told journalists here last week that the governments of India and Canada will have to talk to each other and see how they resolve their differences over the issue and underlined that the larger issue of "permissiveness" must be flagged and addressed. "The issue is as follows, which is that the Canadians have made some allegations. We have pointed out to them that this is not the government of India's policy, but if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that's where the matter stands," Jaishankar said.

US urges India to cooperate with Canada in Nijjar investigation

New Delhi, The latest diplomatic row between India and Canada is not going to impact the ongoing bilateral military engagement and the matter has to be resolved at the political level, Canada's Deputy Army Chief Major General Peter <keyword id="6372795" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="scott" source="Orion">Scott</keyword> said on Tuesday. Scott is leading a Canadian delegation at the <keyword id="1551039" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indo-pacific" source="Orion">Indo-Pacific</keyword> Army Chiefs' Conference (IPACC) here that is being attended by military delegations from over 30 countries. "To the best of my knowledge at this time, that is not going to have an impact on us. We leave the matter at hand to the political level to try and resolve," he told PTI. "We are happy to be here and we do not see the issue clouding matters at this point at all," Major General Scott said. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hardeep-singh-nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword> in June. India has rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. "This is an issue between both our countries at a political level. And certainly our Prime Minister...he rose at the House of Commons and made a statement requesting India's cooperation on the independent investigation that is currently ongoing at this time," the Canadian Army official said. "Between both of our armies, this is not affecting us. I spoke to your commander of the Army (Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande) last night. We both agreed that this is a political issue and has no interference on our relationship," he said. "As two armies we look for opportunities among other 30 nations that are currently participating in this conference to find areas where we can cooperate, train together, conduct exercises and operations so that we all can contribute to ensuring peace, stability within the region," Major General Scott said. "The way we see right now is that we will continue to cooperate, discuss, and enjoy great forums like this where we can exchange ideas and find solutions to the difficulties facing a lot of the Indo-Pacific nations," he said. The Indian Army is hosting the two-day conclave of Indo-Pacific army chiefs to evolve a common strategy to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In his opening address at the conference, Chief of Army Staff Gen Pande said India's outlook for the Indo-Pacific emphasises respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

India-Canada diplomatic row will not impact military ties: Canadian Army Vice Chief

Several <keyword id="116131" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="khalistan" source="Orion">Khalistan</keyword> supporters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation of India's involvement in the murder of radical Sikh leader <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hardeep-singh-nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword>. Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey on June 18 this year with Khalistanis across <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> holding Indian diplomats responsible for his death. In downtown Vancouver, around 75 people gathered outside the Consul General of India on Monday chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, where demonstration was staged atop a large flag of India placed on the wet ground, the CBC news outlet reported. Vancouver police closed the 300 block of Howe Street in anticipation of the event -- called by Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) -- which came amid a heavy police presence. Meera Bains, a Sikh-Canadian journalist posted a video of the protest on X, which showed a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi garlanded with slippers. She wrote: "Protest in front of the Indian consulate underway on Howe Street in Vancouver. So far a few dozen people but very organised with flags, signs, loud speakers, and PM Modi image on cardboard." Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of SFJ, which was banned by India in 2019, was also present during the protests in Vancouver, and said that they are here "to shut down every Indian Consulate in the world today because the Indian back face has come to the front face". While announcing the protests a week ago, Pannun had said that they would also be calling for the expulsion of High Commissioner Sanjay Verma. Pannun, whose properties in Punjab were recently confiscated by the Indian government, had recently released a video with a view to divide Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada, asking all Hindus of Indian-origin to go back to their mother country. In Toronto and Ottawa, around 70 people demonstrated in front of the Indian High Commission, calling India to cooperate with the Canadian government in the investigation of Nijjar's murder. Tensions flared between India and Canada following Trudeau's allegations that India was behind the killing of Nijjar -- a designated terrorist in India. India rejected the allegations, calling them "absurd and motivated". Beginning this year, Khalistanis across the US, the UK, Australia and Canada have been calling referendums, vandalising Hindu temples and Indian missions and installations with spiteful anti-India graffiti. Following Nijjar's death in June, the Sikh radicals have unleashed a poster war across Canada, blaming Indian diplomats and High Commissioner Verma for the killing.

Pro-Khalistani protests held outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada

The Canadian government has said the circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave the country is offensive and hateful, asserting that acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword>. The video was circulated amid escalating tensions between India and Canada following Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hardeep-singh-nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword> on his country's soil in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has angrily rejected Turdeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. Public Safety Canada, the department responsible for matters of public safety, emergency management, national security, and emergency preparedness, said the circulation of the video is offensive and hateful and is an affront to all Canadians and "the values we hold dearly". "There is no place in Canada for hate," it said on Thursday night in a post on X. "Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us. We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities," it added. Indo-Canadian lawmaker <keyword id="5789895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandra-Arya" source="Orion">Chandra Arya</keyword> from Prime Minister Trudeau's party has earlier expressed dismay at the "glorification of terrorism" and hate crime targeting Hindus in this country in the name of "freedom of expression" in Canada. "A few days back Khalistan movement leader in Canada and the president of Sikhs for Justice which organises the so-called referendum Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attacked Hindu Canadians asking us to leave Canada and go back to India," Arya, a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, said. "I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack. I urge Hindu-Canadians to stay calm but vigilant. Please report any incident of Hinduphobia to your local law enforcement agencies," the Indo-Canadian MP posted on X. The Khalistan movement leader is trying to provoke Hindu Canadians to react and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada, Arya said. Canada's public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc said all Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. "All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. The circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians. There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear," he posted on his official X account. Emergency preparedness minister Harjit Sajjan in a post on X said: "To Hindu Canadians and Indians from all backgrounds: Anyone who says you do not deserve to be safe &amp; welcomed in your home does not embody the values of freedom and kindness we hold dear as Canadians. Do not let others delegitimise or question your place and love for Canada."

Canada says no place for aggression, hate, intimidation in country amid online threats to Hindus

<ul><li>India is asking <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> to take action against those facing charges related to terrorism.</li><li>Canadian PM unequivocal about the importance of the rule of law and protecting Canadians.</li><li>Both the countries have fired a diplomat each in a tit-for-tat move.</li></ul> Canada Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword> on Thursday said that India is a country of growing importance, adding that Canada is not looking to provoke or cause problems and called upon the government of India to work with Ottawa to establish processes to uncover the truth in the murder of Khalistan extremist, <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="Hardeep-Singh-Nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword>. Trudeau's recent statement comes as the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada escalated to a level that the envoys of both countries have been expelled in a tit-for-tat move. He also stressed that Canada is unequivocal about the importance of the rule of law and protecting Canadians as well as standing up for values. "There is no question, India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with not just in a region but around the world and we are not looking to provoke or cause problems but we are unequivocal about the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about of the importance of protecting Canadians and standing up for values," Trudeau said while addressing a press conference at Canada's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. "That's why, we call upon the government of India to work with us to establish processes to uncover the truth of the matter and to allow justice and accountability to be served," Trudeau added. Trudeau's recent statement comes as the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada escalated to a level that the envoys of both countries have been expelled in a tit-for-tat move. Indian <keyword id="193522" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="External-Affairs-Ministry" source="Orion">External Affairs Ministry</keyword> in its response to the allegations by Canada had said, "Yes these allegations were raised by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau with PM (Modi) and PM rejected them." Indian government's stance The MEA said that allegations were raised by Trudeau when he was in India to attend the G20 Summit and that PM Modi had rejected them. MEA spokesperson <keyword id="10953867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arindam-Bagchi" source="Orion">Arindam Bagchi</keyword> said that Canada has not shared any specific information regarding the allegations and that India is asking Canada to take action against those facing charges related to terrorism."We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada," Bagchi said on Thursday answering queries. "We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday answering queries. Moreover, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also took questions about Canada's tensions with India during a press conference. On sharing evidence, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said, "Canada has a rigorous and independent justice system, that we trust, to follow through the processes, we will ensure that those processes are strictly, abided by and respected." Regarding the safety of Canadians, he said, "I can tell everyone that Canada is a safe country. We always take Canadians' safety seriously, whether they are at home or abroad." "Canada has a rigorous and independent justice system, that we trust, to follow through the processes, we will ensure that those processes are strictly, abided by and respected. In terms of safety in Canada and the safety of Canadians, we always take the safety of Canadians extremely seriously, whether at home or overseas, I can assure everyone that Canada is a safe country," Trudeau said, while adding, "I continue to call, for calm, and for Canadians to remain true to who we are, open, respectful, grounded in, respect and trust in our institutions and, our law enforcement and justice systems." Speaking further, the Canadian PM repeated his allegations over the killing of the Khalistani leader and stated, "I think it's extremely important that as a country with a strong and independent justice system. We allow those justice processes to unfold themselves with the utmost integrity. But I can assure you, the decision to share these allegations on the floor of the House of Commons was not made lightly. It was done with utmost seriousness..." Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) - a Sikh extremist organisation banned by India and a "designated terrorist" was killed in a targeted shooting at British Columbia in Canada's Surrey in June 2018. India, however, rejected the allegations by the Trudeau administration, terming them "absurd" and "motivated". "We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. "Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA added in its statement. "Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law," it added. Diplomatic action India on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat in light of the claim of New Delhi's involvement in the killing of the wanted separatist leader. The MEA said that the Canadian diplomat was asked to leave India within the next five days. "The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India," the MEA stated. "The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision reflects the Government of India's growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," it added. (With text input from ANI)

India-Canada tension: Trudeau says not looking to provoke; MEA says no specific information shared

India has temporarily suspends visa services in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> as per a notice on India Visa Application Centre Canada's website. The notice states, "Due to operational issues, with effect from 21 September, 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice." Earlier, last evening, India advised its nationals in Canada and those contemplating travel there to exercise utmost caution in view of anti-India activities in some parts of that country. The advisory came amid further deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries following Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist <keyword id="7575364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hardeep-Singh-Nijjar" source="Orion">Hardeep Singh Nijjar</keyword> in June. "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the advisory. It said, "Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda." "Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents," it said. The MEA said the Indian High Commission and consulates general will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Indian community in Canada. "Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant," it said in the advisory. (With text inputs from PTI)

India temporarily suspends visa services in Canada

Washington, <keyword id="10226466" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-President-Joe-Biden" source="Orion">US President Joe Biden</keyword> was reportedly "highly concerned" over the diplomatic row between India and Canada amid Ottawa's claim that its citizen Hardeep <keyword id="1594317" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="singh-nijjar" source="Orion">Singh Nijjar</keyword> was killed on Canadian soil by agents linked to the Indian government. The US has expressed concerns over the incident and deteriorating relations between India and Canada on the issue, US media reports said. Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="justin-trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>, who had a rough time in Delhi during the G20 summit hearing accusations of harbouring pro-Khalistan terrorists on its soil, alleged that agents linked with the Indian government had assassinated a Canadian citizen Nijjar -- designated as a terrorist in India -- on its soil and expelled an Indian diplomat. In fact, both countries expelled one diplomat each from their high commissions. Nijjar is described by Indian officials as a Sikh separatist leader in Canada touting pro-Khalistan slogans and demanding separation from India in a disturbing secessionist movement. India was deeply upset recently when pro-Khalistani elements took out a tableau through the streets of Canada glorifying the assassination of the then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. She was assassinated for her operation "Blue Star" sending the army into the Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out terrorists which a section of the Sikhs community viewed as a sacrilege on their holy shrine. Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> was upfront in telling his counterpart Trudeau to curb the activities of pro-Khalistani elements that were harbouring on its soil even as Trudeau said Canada "did not restrict of freedom of speech of any of its citizens". Tensions escalated between Canada and India as Ottawa alleged that New Delhi may have been behind the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil, with both sides expelling senior diplomats even as India rejected the allegation as "absurd". Trudeau said on Monday that his government was investigating "credible allegations" that Indian government agents had been involved in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, 45, was shot and killed in June outside a Sikh cultural centre in Surrey, <keyword id="213397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="british-columbia" source="Orion">British Columbia</keyword>, a suburb of Vancouver. "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," Trudeau told Parliament on Monday. "In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter." Ottawa on Monday announced the expulsion of a top Indian diplomat from Canada. To which, New Delhi responded on Tuesday by saying a senior Canadian diplomat had been asked to leave India within the next five days. The Indian Foreign Ministry said that the expulsion reflected the government's "growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities", US media reports claimed. India has been accusing Canada of supporting pro-Khalistan elements as they constituted a chunk of the voter base. About 2 per cent of the Canadian population is Sikh, championing the movement to establish an independent Sikh nation they call Khalistan, derived from the word Khalsa, a holy word for them in their religion. The state they want carved out lies in the northern Indian state of Punjab, where most of India's Sikhs live. The Khalistan secessionist move is outlawed in India but has found a large number of supporters among the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada and the UK. The Indian Foreign Ministry had earlier dismissed the Canadian allegations regarding Nijjar's killing as "absurd and motivated". "Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said in a statement earlier Tuesday.

US President Biden 'highly concerned' over India-Canada diplomatic row

<ul><li>This is the second attack on the <keyword id="72335" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="indian-consulate" source="Orion">Indian Consulate</keyword> in <keyword id="12161" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="san-francisco" source="Orion">San Francisco</keyword> by Khalistani supporters within months. </li><li>The attack caused limited damage and no staff members were harmed.</li><li>India has requested partner countries to not give space to extremist Khalistani ideology.</li></ul> India's consulate in San Francisco came under an attack from <keyword id="116131" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="khalistan" source="Orion">Khalistan</keyword> supporters who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire in the second such act of violence within months, drawing strong condemnation from the US government which termed it a "criminal offence". A video by Khalistan supporters, dated July 2 posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The video, with the words "violence begets violence" emblazoned over it, also showed news articles related to the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month. Responding to the incident, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a tweet on Monday said: "The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offence." Diya TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the US, said in a tweet that "a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate." "The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, the damage was limited and no staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified," it said. The outlet also posted a video of the arson attack. A poster being shared on social media says that a "Khalistan Freedom Rally" will be organised on July 8 that will start in Berkeley, California and end at the Indian embassy in San Francisco. This is the second time within months that the Indian Consulate in San Francisco came under attack from Khalistani supporters. On March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags. Ajay Bhutoria, an Indian community leader, said the attack on India's consulate in San Francisco is extremely concerning and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. "It is deeply disturbing to see such acts of violence targeting diplomatic missions," he said. "The Indian consulate serves as an essential hub for providing consular services and fostering bilateral relations between India and the United States. It is crucial that the staff and members of the consulate are able to operate in a safe and secure environment, free from any threat or harm," he added. Bhutoria asked the San Francisco Police Department to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. "Ensuring the safety and security of diplomatic missions is not only a responsibility of the host country but also a fundamental obligation under international law," he said. It is imperative that such incidents are met with a strong response from the authorities to deter any further attacks and ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel, he said. "Let us stand united against violence and work towards promoting peace, understanding, and harmonious relations," Bhutoria said. India's reaction External Affairs Minister <keyword id="491850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="s-jaishankar" source="Orion">S Jaishankar</keyword> on Monday said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations. He was responding to reports of Khalistani posters in Canada naming senior Indian diplomats. The minister said the issue will be raised with the government of that country. The "radical, extremist Khalistani ideology" is not good for India or its partner countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, he told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign. "We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations," the minister said. "We will raise the issue of posters with those governments," Jaishankar said. PTI YAS MRJ NSA AKJ NSA NSA

US condemns attempted arson at Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistan supporters

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An Indian government official was involved in an attempted assassination on US soil, the Justice Department says.</li><li>The official also appeared to be involved in the earlier killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada, according to the indictment.</li></ul>A member of the Indian government directed a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen on American soil, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-charges-connection-foiled-plot-assassinate-us-citizen-new-york">indictment</a>, brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan Wednesday, identifies the Indian official only as "CC-1" and describes them as a "Senior Field Employee" within India's government with responsibilities in "Intelligence."The allegations are included in an updated criminal indictment against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who, according to a previous indictment first filed in June, hired a hitman for the assassination plot.The victim in the plot was meant to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/29/india-us-assassination-plot-sikh-pannun/">according to the Washington Post</a>. Pannum, a lawyer and citizen in the US and Canada, is a leader of a Sikh separatist movement that calls for an independent Sikh state in Punjab.In May, the Indian government employee recruited Gupta to orchestrate the plot to kill Pannum, according to the Justice Department indictment. The two met in person in New Delhi at the time, prosecutors say.Gupta, in turn, contacted another person to broker a deal with a hitman to carry out the plot in New York City, according to prosecutors. The two found another person who agreed to accept $100,000 to kill Pannum, the indictment says.The Indian government employee also said he had another "target" in California, according to the indictment."We will hit our all Targets," Gupta responded, according to prosecutors.The Indian government official appeared to be in a rush. On June 3, Gupta urged the assassin to finish the job, according to messages obtained by prosecutors."finish him brother, finish him, don't take too much time ... push these guys, push these guys .. . , finish the job," he told him over a phone call, according to prosecutors.On June 9, the Indian government employee arranged to deliver $15,000 in cash to the hired assassin in Manhattan as an advance for Pannum's murder, prosecutors say. The Indian government official also sent "the Victim's home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim's day-to-day conduct" to Gupta, who passed them along to the hired assassin, according to the indictment, and asked for "regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot."As it turned out, the assassin and broker were both working with US law enforcement, the indictment says.Prosecutors brought their first set of charges against Gupta on June 13 in <a target="_blank" href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.600440/gov.uscourts.nysd.600440.3.0.pdf">a short, three-page indictment</a>. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 as part of an extradition treaty.<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="5264" width="7896" msid="105602147" hostid="261" sizebytes="1190018"></div><h2>Biden wants to court India. The assassination plots complicate things.</h2>The assassination plot has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/66809c9a-1a0d-4e88-adbf-5b2baece6aac">created a wedge between India and the United States</a>, which seeks to create deeper ties with the country as a counterweight to China.President Joe Biden personally raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in September, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/54721d57-fe1b-4d28-ab9b-a664f110770b">according to the Financial Times</a>. Earlier this year, CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines each flew to India to pressure its government to investigate the plots, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/29/india-us-assassination-plot-sikh-pannun/">according to the Washington Post</a>.India categorized Pannum as a terrorist in 2020 for his Sikh separatist activism and has outlawed Sikhs for Justice, the secessionist organization he works for, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/66809c9a-1a0d-4e88-adbf-5b2baece6aac">according to the Financial Times</a>.Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader and friend of Pannum's, was killed in Surrey on June 18. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-indian-government-nijjar-1.6970498">accused India's government of being involved in the attack</a>."Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau told members of Canada's parliament at the time. "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty."<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="2666" width="4000" msid="105602148" hostid="261" sizebytes="386134"></div>Contact information for Gupta's attorney was not immediately available. Representatives for the White House and India's Ministry of External Affairs didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.Wednesday's 15-page indictment suggests the Indian government official was also involved in Nijjar's death.The official sent Gupta "a video clip showing Nijjar's bloody body slumped in his vehicle" just hours after the killing, the indictment says."GUPTA replied that he wished he had personally conducted the killing and asked CC-1 for permission to 'go to the field,'" the indictment says. "CC-1 responded that 'secrecy [is] important,' and 'it's better you do not get involved in action.'"An hour later, the government official sent Gupta Pannum's address, which Gupta forwarded to the undercover US law enforcement employee who had been hired for the assassination, the indictment says. Gupta told the undercover law enforcement employee that Nijjar "was also the target" but that he was only "#4, #3" on the list, according to the indictment."We have so many targets," Gupta told him, according to the indictment.<div type="image" title="Biden Modi" height="5264" width="7896" msid="105602147" hostid="261" sizebytes="1190018"></div>In the wake of the Canadian killing, Gupta told the undercover law enforcement employee to kill other people if they got in the way of assassinating Punnam, the indictment says."If he is not alone, [if] there are two guys with him in the meeting or something . . . put everyone down, put everyone down," Gupta said, according to the indictment.Gupta and the Indian government employee appeared to have plans to carry out more killings, according to prosecutors.In their communications, they appeared to indicate that they were organized, well-resourced, and methodological with their plans.In one video call with Gupta, the undercover law enforcement official saw three other men in the room "wearing business attire, sitting around a conference table," the indictment says."We are all counting on you," Gupta told him in the call.Gupta said they planned to hire the supposed assassin for more jobs in the United States and Canada if they could pull off Pannum's killing."we will give more bigger job more, more job every month," Gupta told the undercover law enforcement official in one call, according to the indictment. "every month 2-3 job."

An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a Sikh US citizen on American soil, feds say — and more attempts were planned

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Wednesday advised its nationals in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> and those contemplating travel there to exercise utmost caution in view of anti-India activities in some parts of that country. The advisory came amid further deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries following Canadian Prime Minister <keyword id="1740494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justin-Trudeau" source="Orion">Justin Trudeau</keyword>'s allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the advisory. It said, "Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda." "Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents," it said. The MEA said the Indian High Commission and consulates general will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Indian community in Canada. "Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant," it said in the advisory.

Exercise caution: MEA to Indians in Canada and those contemplating travel there

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Wednesday resumed e-visa services to Canadian nationals, according to Sources. Earlier in September, the Indian Mission in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> suspended <keyword id="6359421" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="visa" source="Orion">visa</keyword> services until further notice, citing operational reasons, according to BLS International. BLS International Services Limited is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa, passport, consular, attestation and citizen services. "Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from September 21, 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking the BLS website for further updates," the BLS website said. However, in October, India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation, which "takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard". <keyword id="1181167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entry-visa" source="Orion">Entry visa</keyword>, <keyword id="63973" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-visa" source="Orion">business visa</keyword>, medical visa and conference visa were four categories in which India decided to resume visa services in Canada with effect from October 26. Following the development, Canada welcomed India's decision to partially resume visa services calling it a "good sign" and stating that the suspension should "never have happened in the first place", Canada-based CTV News reported. Notably, amid a diplomatic standoff with Canada, India had halted its visa services until "further notice" in September. This came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Khalistterrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Najjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. India had rejected the allegations as "absurd and motivated" and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move over Canada's decision. "We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as well as the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the statement said.

India resumes e-visa services to Canadian nationals

Toronto, <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity, Foreign Affairs Minister <keyword id="4780460" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="melanie-joly" source="Orion">Melanie Joly</keyword> has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist. Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India angrily rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". "I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unilaterally remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20," Joly said on Thursday. Canada will be pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is now directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. Joly said that in their "unreasonable" request for diplomatic parity, India would only allow 21 diplomats and their families to maintain their diplomatic status, putting the others at risk of having their protections stripped arbitrarily, leaving them vulnerable to reprisal or arrest. "This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk," she said at a news conference in Ottawa. "The safety of Canadians and of our diplomats is always my top concern. Given the implications of India's actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India," Joly said. "This means that our diplomats and their families have now left." Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. Calling India's action "contrary to international law," and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Joly accused India of escalating the bilateral tensions, but Canada will not be reciprocating. "There is a fundamental principle of diplomacy, and this is a two-way street. It only works if every country abides by the rules," she said. "A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law," Joly said. "Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory. If we allow the norm of diplomatic immunity to be broken, no diplomats anywhere ... would be safe." "So for this reason, we will not reciprocate," she added. "Let me be clear, Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies to all nations and will continue to engage with India. Now more than ever, we need diplomats on the ground, and we need to talk to one another," Joly said. Joly announced the development "on the situation with India" alongside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller, who announced the shrinking of Canada's footprint to one-third of what it was, will impact the level of service delivery Canada will be able to provide in India. "Remaining staff will continue to focus on the work that can't be moved out of the country, such as urgent cases, visa printing, and working with visa application centres," Miller said, noting that Canada's 10 visa application centres are operated by third-party contractors and will not be impacted. Those left are considered core staff, who will remain focused on the current challenging diplomatic situation, as well as trade and business files, according to officials who briefed reporters on a not-for-attribution basis on Thursday evening. Commercial programming for businesses will continue, but at reduced capacity, and Canada continues to employ locally engaged staff. Miller noted that in 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada, and so the federal government recognises the impacts that will be felt. "I want to reassure our clients in India and Canadians who have family and friends in India that Canada will continue to accept and process all temporary and permanent resident applications from India," he said, adding that it may just take longer. The remarks by the ministers come after Prime Minister Trudeau was asked on Thursday for a status update on the Indian government giving Ottawa an October 10 deadline to significantly reduce its diplomatic footprint. As CTV News reported at the time, Canada was asked to see dozens of diplomats depart, to put the contingent of officials in India on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada. Sources said then, that Canada had already evacuated a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Trudeau did not directly answer the question, saying instead that Joly would have more to say later. "We have been continually engaged in diplomacy and in dialogue with the Indian government," Trudeau said. "This is a serious matter that we are taking extremely seriously." Earlier, Trudeau had said that Canada shared with India "many weeks ago" evidence that it may have been behind the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil and wants New Delhi to commit constructively with Ottawa to establish the facts in the "very serious matter." Trudeau, however, did not elaborate on the evidence that he says has been shared with India. Pressed for more details on whether Canada has provided India evidence to back Canada's claims and how it reached its conclusions regarding the potential link to the extrajudicial killing, Joly in the past too was unspecific beyond stating the two countries had various meetings and information was shared, leading up to Trudeau's House of Commons declaration. Joly also restated Trudeau's calls for India to cooperate in the ongoing probe, noting federal law enforcement agencies in Canada "are working actively." India has asked Canada to come down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told journalists in Washington last month that the governments of India and Canada will have to talk to each other and see how they resolve their differences over the issue and underlined that but the larger issue of the Canadian government's "permissiveness" to terrorism, extremism and violence must be flagged and addressed.

Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India after threat to revoke their immunity: Foreign Minister Melanie Joly

With India warning its citizens to "exercise utmost caution" while in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> amid escalation of the diplomatic row between the two countries, the families of students and permanent residents, particularly the Hindus and Hindu-Canadians residing in the north American nation, are concerned about their well being. As per official data, Canada is an attractive destination for Indians, especially students. A major chunk of them are from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi. "We have been much concerned about the well being of both my children who are studying in Canada since the escalation of tension in diplomatic relations between India and Canada after the murder accusation," Ramesh Uppal, a resident of Ludhiana, told IANS. He said he said advised the children not to go out alone, take precautions and keep a low profile "as they can be considered soft targets". On Wednesday, the Indian government issued an updated travel advisory urging its citizens travelling in Canada and especially those studying there to be cautious because of the "growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes". Indians should also avoid going to venues in Canada where "threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose anti-India agenda," the ministry said. As per the data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada issued study permits to 551,405 international students from 184 countries, in 2022, an increase of 24 per cent over 2021, in what Canadian immigration described as a "record-breaking year" for visa applications. Out of the total international students, 41 per cent (226,450) are Indian students, a majority from cash-rich Punjab, up from 169,460 the previous year. As per estimates, there were 807,750 study permit holders in Canada last December, over 190,000 more than in 2021, against Canada's target of 450,000 foreign students by 2022 set out in the country's 2014 international education strategy. Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Under this program, the work permit may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. Coming out in support of the Indian diaspora in the wake of Khalistan movement leader in Canada and president of Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who organizes the so-called referendum, asking Hindu-Canadians to leave Canada and go back to India, Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya said, "I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack. "I urge Hindu-Canadians to stay calm but vigilant. Please report any incident of Hinduphobia to your local law enforcement agencies. "The Khalistan movement leader is trying to provoke the Hindu-Canadians to react and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. "Let me be clear. Vast majority of our Canadian Sikh brothers and sisters do not support Khalistan movement." He said most Sikh Canadians may not publicly condemn the Khalistan movement for several reasons but they "are deeply connected to the Hindu-Canadian community. Canadian Hindus and Sikhs are connected through family relationships and shared social and cultural ties". "This direct attack on Hindu-Canadians by the leader of the Canadian Khalistan movement is further escalation of the recent attacks on Hindu temples and public celebration of the assassination of Hindu Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by terrorists," said the Trudeau's party MP. In a video message, Chandra said Canada has high moral values and "we fully uphold the rule of law". "I can't understand how glorification of terrorism or a hate crime targeting a religious group is allowed in the name of freedom of speech and expression," he said, adding "Hindu Canadians keep a low profile and are considered soft targets." Responding to a question on fear among students in Canada, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said they have issued an advisory to take precautions. "Our consulate is working there. We have said that if they face any problem, they can contact our consulate." As India suspended visa services in Canada citing "operational reasons", <keyword id="6357030" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shiromani-akali-dal" source="Orion">Shiromani Akali Dal</keyword> chief <keyword id="6375801" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sukhbir-badal" source="Orion">Sukhbir Badal</keyword> said "this is set to create great hurdles, uncertainty and anxiety for Punjabis". Saying he was deeply concerned over the indefinite suspension of visa services for Canadian nationals to India, Badal said "it affects lakhs of Punjabis residing as overseas nationals of Indian origin or as students in that country". "This is set to create great hurdles, uncertainty and anxiety for Punjabis, especially to members of the most patriotic community of the Sikhs who have not only made unparalleled sacrifices for the freedom of the country but also for fighting off foreign aggression in borders. "The visa facility hurdles will particularly hit our youth who go to Canada in thousands as students every year and who are now residing there. I have been flooded with calls and messages from Punjabis in Canada and their families and relatives back home, seeking the Akali Dal's intervention to ensure safe and smooth travel to their homeland." Realising the gravity of the situation, the Shiromani Akali Dal urged the two countries' governments to find a solution to the matter at the earliest. Private agency, BLS, hired for initial scrutiny of visa applications of Canadians, posted a note on its website, saying, "Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking the BLS website for further updates." The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada soured over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

You Searched For "hardeep singh nijjar" and got 13 results

US urges India to cooperate with Canada in Nijjar investigation

PTI

India-Canada diplomatic row will not impact military ties: Canadian Army Vice Chief

PTI

Pro-Khalistani protests held outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada

IANS

Canada says no place for aggression, hate, intimidation in country amid online threats to Hindus

PTI

India-Canada tension: Trudeau says not looking to provoke; MEA says no specific information shared

BI India Bureau

India temporarily suspends visa services in Canada

BI India Bureau

US President Biden 'highly concerned' over India-Canada diplomatic row

IANS

US condemns attempted arson at Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistan supporters

PTI

An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a Sikh US citizen on American soil, feds say — and more attempts were planned

Jacob Shamsian

Exercise caution: MEA to Indians in Canada and those contemplating travel there

PTI

India resumes e-visa services to Canadian nationals

ANI

Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India after threat to revoke their immunity: Foreign Minister Melanie Joly

PTI

Families concerned over 'escalating tension' between India and Canada

IANS