Modi Warns West Against Taking India For Granted

India Not For ‘Taken For Granted Relations’: Modi in veiled message to West

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, October 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India doesn’t forge relations that could be taken for granted. His remarks came within hours of India’s ambassador in Canada Sanjay Verma, saying “we mistrust Justin Trudeau and his entire team”.

“India doesn’t forge relations that can be taken for granted. Basis for our relations is trust and credibility,” said Modi at a conclave of NDTV on Monday. The prime minister stressed that the “world is also understanding the fact that India cannot be taken for granted”.

Remarks of the prime minister came ahead of his embarking in the next few days for Kazan in Russia to attend BRICS Summit. Modi will be in Russia for the second occasion within four months.

Also Read: We mistrust Justin Trudeau & his entire team, says India’s ambassador in Canada

Verma had reached out to the Canadian broadcaster CTV News to give an interview. His television appearance was apparently to rebut the claims made by the Canadian high commissioner in India.

“We don’t trust Justin Trudeau and his entire team. They are politically motivated. They made allegations against India on hearsay,” Verma told the Canadian broadcaster last evening.

A combative Verma also told the broadcaster that he, as part of his “lateral interest”, indeed keeps eyes on “enemies of India, including the Khalistanis in Canada”.

Verma also accused the G7 countries of “double standard, having committed extra-territorial killings”. The US, Canada, the UK, and Australia are members of G7 while also being ‘Five Eyes, an intelligence sharing network’, nations.

Also Read: Killer of Indian Martyr Works In Canada Border Force: Report 

The prime minister’s assertive note on bilateral relations is seen in the context of nosediving ties with Canada, as well as the US pushing India for probe in the failed murder plot of the Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Modi’s growing annoyance with the US and Canada for promoting the Sikh separatists is seemingly setting the backdrop to his visit to Kazan. “The developing Countries are tired of the US hectoring and interference in their internal affairs. PM Modi who had avoided going to Russia in the last two years will be paying his second visit this year after his first visit in July 2024,” commented Yogesh Gupta, India’s former diplomat in post on LinkedIn.
He stressed that “when Modi went to Washington last month, (Joe) Biden (the US president) met the American Sikh separatists in White House just before Modi’s plane landed in a sharp message. USA’s support for Sikh separatists continues unabated.”

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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