Liberal MPs voice concerns to Carney over G7 invite to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi
OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney to raise concerns about the decision to invite India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada to attend the upcoming G7 summit.
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Sukh Dhaliwal represents the Surrey, B.C. riding, where prominent Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot outside of a temple in June 2023, a killing that Canada has linked to agents acting on behalf of the Indian government.
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India has denied any involvement in Nijjar's death. Four Indian nationals have been charged in the killing.
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Gurbux Saini, the Liberal MP for the riding of Fleetwood—Port Kells, said he also raised the issue with the prime minister and said he disagrees with the decision to invite Modi.
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'It's not a Hindu-Sikh issue,' Saini told reporters. 'It's a Canadian issue.'
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Saini cited statements made by the RCMP that it has evidence showing India's government to be involved in violent crime unfolding in Canada, from murders to intimidation by criminal gangs towards the South Asian community.
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'India has to be accountable,' Saini said.
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'They have to give assurance that they are going to cooperate with our agencies.'
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He suggested that not only was the invitation to Modi damaging to Canada's reputation, but that he was also concerned about a report that Canada had extended an invitation to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
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