Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The downturn in India-Canada relations is a result of the licence given to secessionist and extremist elements in Canada, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
The MEA also rejected insinuations made by the Canadian government on India and hoped the two countries can rebuild ties based on mutual respect and sensitivity.
The information was shared by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a written question in Lok Sabha about actions taken by the government to address the issue of the recent diplomatic standoff between India and Canada.
"The downturn in India-Canada relations is a result of the licence given to secessionist and extremist elements in Canada. The government of India has repeatedly urged the Canadian government to take prompt and effective action against all anti-India elements operating from its soil," the minister said.
"This includes preventing secessionist and extremist elements from glorifying the assassination of our leaders; issuing threats to our current political leadership and diplomats; disrespecting and vandalising places of worship and espousing for the balkanisation of India by holding so-called 'referendums'," he added.
The minister noted that the government continues to engage with the Canada government to address concerns regarding the activities of anti-India elements in that country.
"As far as the issue of foreign interference is concerned, it is a fact that Canada has been consistently interfering in India's internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities.
"We reject any insinuations made by the Canadian government on India. Our hope is that we can rebuild ties based on mutual respect and sensitivity," Singh said.