Ahead of PM’s Canada visit, law enforcement agencies discuss issues of mutual concern, says MEA

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At a media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked if the issue of gangsters, whose names have been shared with Canada for taking action, would come up during Modi’s visit. “There are existing mechanisms between the Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concern over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue.”

The Prime Minister received a call from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last week. During the call, Carney extended an invitation for the forthcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis to Modi. India has accepted the invitation.

Jaiswal said, during the call, Modi and Carney had an opportunity to reflect on the India-Canada relationship and the way forward.

The MEA spokesperson was categorical in mentioning how the two nations could reset ties. “We believe the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the side-lines of the G7 Summit will offer them an important opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and to explore pathways to reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other’s concerns,” he added.

The G7 is a grouping of the most industrialised economies in the world — US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada. These summits are also attended by the European Union (EU), the IMF, the World Bank and the UN.

India-Canada relations nosedived, following the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar inside Canada in June 2023. Canada’s then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of being involved in the incident. India vehemently dismissed Trudeau’s charges, calling them “baseless”. The two sides had even expelled each other’s diplomats.

Meanwhile, New Delhi accused Canada was aiding ‘illegal migration and organised criminal activities’. In January this year, Canada blamed India of ‘interference’ in its internal matters, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), had hit back accusing Canada of ‘consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs’.

He said, “This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities”. India had even asked the Canadians to arrest Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang members residing in Canada, but it was not heeded to.

In July 2020, India declared Nijjer as an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. At the Punjab Police’s request, Interpol issued a red notice against him in 2016 while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a Rs 10 lakh bounty on his head in July 2022.

India is also unhappy with Canada for its handling the extradition requests for Hardip Singh Nijjer, who was wanted by Indian agencies and was facing an Interpol ‘red corner notice’. His name was flagged to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2018, seeking extradition.