'Matter Of Serious Concern': MEA On Indian Nationals In Canada Receiving 'Extortion Calls'

"People getting extortion calls, especially Indian nationals, is a matter of serious concern," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal

Source : ANI

New Delhi: The Indian government on Thursday expressed concern over reports that some Indians residing in Canada were receiving "extortion calls".

"People getting extortion calls, especially Indian nationals, is a matter of serious concern," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said answering queries at the regular media briefing, reported ANI.

#WATCH | On Indian Nationals getting extortion calls in Canada, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Indians getting extortion calls in Canada is concerning..." pic.twitter.com/YGxO0NKnxb

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024

"We (India and Canada) have several issues to discuss. There was an issue about a temple which was attacked. The Canadian police then thereafter went into the investigation of the temple premises, and the person who had intruded it later turned out, and they issued a statement that the person was of unsound mind. So there are these issues that keep happening...," Jaiswal said.

As per local media reports, law enforcement in Canada has established a task force to probe reports of extortion targeting some businesses of members of the Indo-Canadian community, reported ANI.

 

The reports citing police in Canada said that nine incidents were being probed. 

Notably, today's press conference was Jaiswal's maiden media briefing as MEA spokesperson.

He succeeded Arindam Bagchi, who has been appointed India's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations in Geneva.

During the briefing, Jaiswal was asked about the growing concern in the Indo-Canadian community living in Canada's British Colombia about getting extortion calls and threat calls in the last two months and if the Indian government was monitoring the situation.

Relations between India and Canada have experienced a decline recently, as noted by the MEA spokesperson who highlighted the core concern as the "space that is given to extremists and terrorists and, anti-India elements" in Canada, reported ANI.

MEA spokesperson also touched upon the bombing attack in Iran's Kerman that killed 84 people on Wednesday.

"We condemn this incident. We stand with the people of Iran and the government of Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Iran...," he said.

MEA On India's Relationship With China

During the media briefing, the MEA spokesperson once again reiterated that India's relationship with China is “not normal.” He further stated that both sides are engaged in diplomatic and military talks to resolve the pending issues in eastern Ladakh, reported PTI.

“Our position on China is very well known. It is a relationship which is not normal but we have had dialogues both on the military side as well as on the diplomatic side,” Jaiswal said in response to a question on the situation in eastern Ladakh.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-and-half-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

Jaiswal also referred to the last rounds of military and diplomatic talks between the two sides in October and November respectively. “The idea is that we engage so that we can have some sort of resolution,” he said.

In the military talks on October 9 and 10, the two sides exchanged views in an open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector, reported PTI.