Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, has leveled a significant accusation before departing back to India. He stated that Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) considers Khalistani extremists and terrorists as a valuable resource. Sanjay Verma claimed that the Canadian government was supporting Khalistani extremists. Sanjay Verma stated that Khalistani radicals are constantly receiving support.
He claimed that this is my claim, I am aware that some of these Khalistani extremists and terrorists are highly valued assets of CSIS, but I am not providing any evidence.
Sanjay Verma stated that his concerns should be taken seriously by the Canadian government. He mentioned his desire for the previous Canadian government to truly comprehend his fundamental worries instead of supporting those threatening Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity. The outcome in India will be determined by the people of India.
These Khalistani extremists, who are Canadian citizens, should not be challenging the sovereignty of another country even though they are not Indian citizens. The ambassador rejected all accusations made by Ottawa regarding the involvement in the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Sanjay Verma stated that the Trudeau government has not provided any proof. This has political motivations. I want to find out the specific evidence that Foreign Minister Melanie Joy is referring to. In my opinion, she is speaking in a political manner. In my role as the High Commissioner of India, I have never engaged in such actions. Keeping an eye on pro-Khalistani elements in Canada is a national concern, and her team gathers data from public sources.
Sanjay Verma mentioned that we go through newspapers, we go through their statements, as we are proficient in Punjabi, we go through their social media posts and try to make inferences from them. India and Canada’s relationship deteriorated when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in Nijjar’s murder during a speech in the Canadian Parliament last year.
India has rejected the accusations, deeming them irrational, and has blamed Canada for sheltering extremist and anti-India groups within its borders. In 2020, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) labeled Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani, as a terrorist. In June of last year, he was killed by gunfire outside a gurdwara located in Surrey.