India on Thursday said the core issue with Canada is that it gives space to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements.
“Our position has been consistent. We have highlighted how we see the problem and frankly, the core issue remains the space that is given to extremists, terrorists, and anti-India elements in that country,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.
“I would not like to say whether they have noted a shift or not. Certainly, our positions have remained consistent and we would hope that they would take action on such extremist elements that are misusing freedom of speech and expression from their country,” he added.
Bagchi’s remarks came a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the “tonal shift” jibe at India.
Trudeau on Wednesday said he felt a tonal shift in relations with India since the US accused Indian government officials of plotting the murder of separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. “I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they cannot bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before,” Trudeau said.
“There is an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada is not going to make this problem go away. We do not want to be in a situation of having a fight with India right now over this,” he added.
Trudeau was referring to the US indictment accusing a man named Nikhil Gupta of working with Indian government employees to plot Khalistani terrorist Pannun’s murder.
