US covers up Trudeau’s blushes as India steps up heat on Khalistani terrorists
Jutine Trudeau at G20 Summit New Delhi (File)
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, September 20: While the US is seen to be acting with discretion to save blushes to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by stating that Washington has not rebuffed his accusations made in parliament, India is showing determination to smoke out the Khalistani terrorists with the premier investigative agency NIA releasing names of six wanted for crimes committed against the country on Wednesday. Three of the six alleged Khalistani terrorists named by the NIA are said to be operating from Canada.
Trudeau in a sensational claim made allegation against “Government of India” in the killing of its citizen Harjeet Singh Nijjar. Trudeu claimed that he had “credible allegations against Government of India” in Canadian parliament following which the bilateral ties have sunk to new low with both the nations expelling on diplomat each in a it-for-tat reaction.
The NIA on Wednesday released names of sox on the wanted list as part of its efforts to “dismantle terror-gangster networks”, which included Goldy Brar, Anmol Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh Gill, Darman Singh, S Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, and Dinesh Sharma Gandhi. Three in the list are allegedly stated to be residing in Canada and carrying out anti-India operations.
Meanwhile, the White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson in a statement rebutted a media report that Washington had rebuffed the Canadian prime minister’s accusation against India. “Reports that we rebuffed Canada in any way on this are flatly false. We are coordinating closely on this issue. This is a serious matter and we support Canada’s ongoing law enforcement efforts. We are also engaging the Indian government,” stated Watson, while tagging a Washington Post report, which underlined deepening ties between India and the US.
The diplomatic community in India scoffed at the idea of Canada investigating the case of Nijjar’s murder, as they reminded that Trudeau and his predecessors have shoddy record in taming anti-India elements on Canada soil.
“In Canada, two dangerous contemporary trends have come together, namely: Global fight against terrorism being diluted and fragmented where ‘our’ terrorists i.e. Khalistani terrorists in Canada, are not ‘their’ terrorists; Anti-India attacks have become ‘Hinduphobia’ attacks,” said former diplomat T S Tirumurti in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The Indian social media space was full of videos of radicals in Canada giving open call for attacks against Hindus living there, which invited the Ministry of External Affairs to issue a travel advisory. “In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” said the MEA in an advisory.
It added that “Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents. Our High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Canada.”
“Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. Indian nationals and students from India in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident,” stated the MEA in the statement.
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