Indian Government Rejects Ottawa's Allegations Of Sikh Activist Targeting In Canada
India has refuted allegations made by Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino that Sikh activists in the country are being targeted by foreign actors.
In a statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that "there is no evidence to support these allegations." The MEA also emphasized that "India has always respected the rule of law and democratic values, and it expects the same from its partners."
The allegations made by Mendicino stem from a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that warned of "foreign interference" in Canada, including targeting of Sikh activists.
However, India has questioned the basis of the CSIS report, stating that "it is not clear what evidence has been used to arrive at such a conclusion." The MEA further stated that "the Indian community in Canada has always been an asset to the country and has made significant contributions to its development."
India's rejection of the allegations comes amid growing tensions between the two countries over a range of issues, including the farmers' protests in India and the recent arrest of a Sikh activist in Canada, Jagmeet Singh Sidhu.
It remains to be seen whether the current dispute will affect the relationship between India and Canada. However, it is clear that India is not willing to tolerate any allegations that it is interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.