India criticizes Trudeau’s ‘One India’ remarks – ThePrint –

New Delhi, Oct 17 (PTI) A day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about the ‘One India’ policy, India on Thursday said “no action” taken against anti-India elements in this country suggests that there is a “gap” between action and words. .

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also told reporters that over the past few years, New Delhi had reminded Ottawa to take action against anti-India activities there.

“We have seen Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments that he believes in the ‘One India’ policy, but so far the actions we have demanded against the anti-India elements who actually oppose ‘One India’ only India”, which call for dismemberment and disunity. of the country, who espouse separatist ideology…no action has been taken,” Jaiswal said.

“In a sense there is a difference, there is a gap between action and words here,” he added.

As the Canadian Prime Minister told the commission of inquiry, the MEA said Thursday morning that what it had heard only “confirmed” New Delhi’s consistent position that Canada “did not present to us no evidence” to support the serious allegations that Ottawa has chosen to make against. India and Indian diplomats.

Trudeau acknowledged Wednesday that he had only intelligence and no “hard evidence” when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

The MEA released a statement Thursday morning in response to media questions regarding Trudeau’s deposition, some details of which were revealed in the media.

“What we heard today only confirms what we have said all along: Canada has not presented us with any evidence to support the serious allegations it has chosen to make against India and Indian diplomats,” the MEA spokesperson said in the statement. .

The ministry added: “Responsibility for the damage caused by this cavalier behavior to India-Canada relations lies solely with Prime Minister Trudeau. » During Thursday evening’s press conference, Jaiswal was also asked about the future direction of relations between India and Canada.

“It’s an evolving situation, so we’ll see,” he said.

The escalation of the diplomatic conflict between India and Canada represents a major slowdown in the already frosty relations between the two nations.

Relations between the two countries came under strain following Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s assassination. New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s accusations, calling them “absurd.”

India maintains that the main issue between the two countries is Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating with impunity from Canadian soil.

Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.

Responding to a question on the safety of Indian nationals or of Indian origin in Canada, Jaiswal said that around 17-18 lakh people of Indian origin, as well as Indian citizens as well, live in Canada and “their safety is important “.

It is in the hands of the Canadian government and “we hope it will ensure their safety,” he added.

Asked about the visa situation, he replied that “the visa situation is not very good.”

Asked about allegations of intimidation of some journalists of Indian origin in Canada, the MEA spokesperson said: “These are clear examples of intimidation and violence by those who openly espouse extremist ideologies and separatists. » “These are also examples of what afflicts Canada today and which reveal the sources of violence. Blaming India does not work in any way,” he said.

Asked about former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said: “As we said earlier, she had come here on short notice for security reasons, and she continues to be here. » On a question regarding a report on a possible resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan, and whether this was discussed on the sidelines of the SCO conclave in Islamabad, Jaiswal said: “It has not not been discussed.” PTI KND KVK KVK

This report is automatically generated from PTI news service. ThePrint assumes no responsibility for its content.