External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said Canada had a “permissive attitude” towards terrorists and extremists who openly advocate violence and such people have been given “operating space” in the country.
Jaishankar said that the Canadian allegations with regard to the death of a Khalistani separatist were discussed during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a day earlier and noted that the two delegations came out better informed after the meeting.
The Canadian Prime Minister, he said, made some allegations initially privately and then publicly. “Our response to him both in private and public was that his allegation was not consistent with our policy. And if he had, his government had anything relevant specifics, we would look into,” he said.
“We were open to looking at it now. That’s where that conversation is at this point of time,” Jaishankar said.
He said that for India, Canada has become a country where organised crime from India mixed with trafficking in people, mixed with secessionism and violence which is a very toxic combination of issues that people who have found operating space.
He acknowledged that there has been a lot between India and Canada on this issue preceding the remarks of the Canadian prime minister.