'India's Territorial Integrity Must Be Respected,' Says Canada Minister Amid Row Over 'Pro-Khalistan Radicals

Last year, Canada alleged the possible involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. India dismissed allegations as 'absurd'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Canadian Counterpart Just Trudeau.

Source : PTI

In a move that can be seen as a thaw in diplomatic relations, a Canadian minister has expressed support for India's territorial integrity, saying "there is one India, and that's been made very clear". The statement by Canada's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs David Morrison comes amid a spell of frosty ties between India and Canada over the latter's allegations about Indian government agents having a role in the killing of Sikh radical and separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

According to a report by Outlook, Morrison, speaking during an appearance before the Foreign Interference Commission in Ottawa, said, “Canada's policy is very clear that India's territorial integrity must be respected. There's one India, and that's been made very clear.”

The report says that he also addressed pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, referring to them as "awful but lawful", acknowledging the protection of such activities under freedom of speech rights. 

The statement is meant to clarify Canada’s position on Sikh separatists, many of whom wage their campaign for a separate state in Western countries including Canada. 

“Canada and India are partners going back many decades. India is an increasingly significant global player and Canada is taking account of that in its policies,” Morrison said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

In June 2023, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said his country had “very serious reasons” to believe that “agents' of the Indian government may have been involved in Nijjar's killing.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a terrorist in India, was shot dead by two gunmen outside a gurdwara in British Columbia earlier the same month. Three Indian nationals were arrested for the murder and Trudeau alleged they were looking into "credible allegations potentially linking" the Indian state to the murder. India's Ministry of External Affairs had rejected the claims, describing them as "absurd" and politically motivated.