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India's foreign secretary, Vinay Kwatra, has expressed concerns over the 'political space' provided by Canada to anti-India forces that promote extremism and violence.
Kwatra's remarks come against the backdrop of recent rallies organized by pro-Khalistan elements in Vancouver and Brampton, featuring floats depicting the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Bilateral ties between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
India has dismissed the accusation and has urged Canada to take strong action against anti-India elements.
Kwatra emphasized the importance of India's democracy, which recently witnessed the largest democratic exercise in history with over 640 million voters participating.
He also criticized the rise of right-wing forces in democracies worldwide, emphasizing the need to address underlying concerns rather than amplifying anger.
Canada's high commissioner Cameron MacKay has condemned the floats depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi, stating that the promotion of violence is unacceptable in Canada.
The external affairs ministry of India has not yet reacted to these latest protests, but Indian high commissioner Sanjay Verma has previously urged the Canadian government to take exemplary action against such displays of violence and hatred.
The future of India-Canada relations will depend on Canada's response to India's concerns regarding anti-India forces and its commitment to addressing extremism and violence within its borders.
Source: Political space to anti-India forces in Canada is main issue: Top Indian diplomat