Canada govt defends its move in parliament to invite Indian PM to G7 summit
Toronto: Under attack for inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 leaders' summit, the Canadian government has defended the decision saying that was a critical forum for discussions between global leaders.
Responding to a question from a New Democratic Party (NDP) MP during question period in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said, 'The Prime Minister and I have spoken with our Indian counterparts and there has been an agreement for continued law enforcement dialogue.' She was referring to the conversation between Canadian PM Mark Carney and Modi last week during which the former extended the invitation to the summit, which will be held from June 15 to June 17 in the resort of Kananiskis in Alberta.
'The G7 is a critical forum for global leaders to have productive and frank discussions,' she added.
Referring to the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023, she added, 'The RCMP's investigation is ongoing and, in this country, the rule of law will never be compromised. We will always stand up for the safety and security of Canadians.'
The government has attracted flak from pro-Khalistan groups, the NDP, and Liberal Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal over its decision.
On Friday, during the course of a press conference in Ottawa, Carney said, 'Bilaterally, we have now agreed, importantly, to continue law enforcement dialogue so there's been some progress on that.'
Ties between the two nations deteriorated after then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau stated in the House on September 18, 2023, that there were 'credible allegations' of a potential link between Indian agents and the Nijjar murder three months earlier. India described those accusations as 'absurd' and 'motivated'.
In October last year, India withdrew six officials from Canada after Ottawa requested New Delhi waive their diplomatic immunity so they could be questioned in connection with violent criminal activity in the country. In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats.
However, the situation has changed, for the better, with Trudeau's departure in March, and Carney's invitation to Modi, during the course of a telephonic conversation on Friday, has helped that process.
But Canada will keep these issues on its agenda, as a release from the prime minister's office stated on Saturday that one of its priorities for the G7 will be 'strengthening peace and security, countering foreign interference and transnational crime, and improving joint responses to wildfires. However, it also noted that the global meet will have 'a forward-looking agenda that engages partners beyond the G7, recognising that our long-term security and prosperity will depend on building coalitions with reliable partners and common values'.
Speaking to reporters from Paris on Saturday, Anand said, 'The Prime Minister has invited Prime Minister Modi in recognition of the fact that this is the meeting of the G7 where global leaders are meeting to discuss global issues including the global economy.'
Indo-Canadian groups have come out in support of Carney. In a letter to the PM on Tuesday, they wrote, 'Your steadfast commitment to the Canada First Policy prioritising national unity, economic strength, and sovereignty resonates deeply with Canadians from all walks of life. Your refusal to yield to divisive groups, such as Khalistani extremists, exemplifies the courage and vision required to uphold the values of inclusivity, peace, and mutual respect that define our great nation.'
'Your administration's decisive actions have sent a resounding message: Canada will not be manipulated by identity-based politics or intimidated by those who seek to sow division. These efforts align powerfully with the Canada First vision and reinforce our national resolve to protect Canadian interests above all else,' the letter noted.
The letter was signed by organisations including Hindu Canadian Foundation, Vishwa Jain Sanghathan Canada and Coalition of Hindus of North America.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
29 minutes ago
- United News of India
Canada visit by PM will provide platform to reset ties: MEA Spokesperson
New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Canada to participate in G7 Summit, which is expected to provide a platform for discussing bilateral and global issues and potentially "reset" ties based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns. Besides participating in the G7 Summit, Modi will have a bilateral meeting with his Canadian PM Mark Carney, which will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues and 'explore pathways to set or reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interest and sensitivity to each other's concerns'. This information was shared by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during his weekly media briefing. He said that Prime Minister Modi had received a call from Canadian Prime Minister Carney last week, during which he extended an invitation to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Kananaskis. 'India and Canada are vibrant democracies, bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and strong people-to-people ties,' the spokesperson said. The forthcoming meeting is expected to provide a platform for discussing bilateral and global issues and potentially "reset" ties based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns. New Delhi and Toronto have been witnessing a chill in bilateral relations over the last few years, mainly because of support provided to pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. 'Our views on some of these have already been shared publicly in considerable detail,' Jaiswal said. Replying to a question on reinstating expelled diplomats, Jaiswal emphasised that mechanisms for dialogue between Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies are already in place and have been actively engaging on mutual security issues over time. This engagement, he said, is expected to continue. UNI RBE SSP
The Print
41 minutes ago
- The Print
Vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh attack on India's civilisational heritage: BJP
A mob attacked and vandalised the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Tagore in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra called for global denunciation of the incident targeting the legacy of the iconic Indian personality as he described it as a 'preplanned' attack orchestrated by Islamic groups. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) The BJP on Thursday condemned the interim government in Bangladesh for the vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in that country, slamming it as an assault on the very soul of India's rich cultural and civilizational heritage. Patra cited media reports to say that Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam were behind the attack, noting that Tagore is an iconic symbol of Bengal, and Indian culture and civilisation. He also slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not raising the issue, alleging that she saw infiltrators from the neighbouring Bangladesh as a vote bank and has opted to keep quiet for political reasons. 'She is driven by vote bank politics. We are driven by cultural politics,' Patra said. The interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus has not taken any action, and its conduct has not been appropriate, Patra said. He appealed to the world community to come together against it, adding that his party believes in inclusivity. 'The Bharatiya Janata Party, which stands firmly by the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' issues a global appeal that all nations that uphold the values of morality, cultural integrity, creativity, and civilizational harmony must come together in unequivocal condemnation of this heinous act,' he said. The BJP strongly feels that India's culture and civilization, which stretches beyond national boundaries, has come under attack in Bangladesh. Patra said Tagore, who is called Gurudev out of respect for his immense contribution in different fields, created many of memorable works in this ancestral home, known as Kachharibari. It is also a government museum to respect his legacy. The BJP MP noted that he not only wrote India's national anthem but also that of Bangladesh, which has seen a surge in the activities of Islamic hardlines following the deposition of Sheikh Hasina last year. PTI KR ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Most G7 members ready to lower Russian oil price cap without US
BRUSSELS/PARIS, - Most countries in the Group of Seven nations are prepared to go it alone and lower the G7 price cap on Russian oil even if U.S. President Donald Trump decides to opt out, four sources familiar with the matter said. G7 country leaders are due to meet on June 15-17 in Canada where they will discuss the price cap first agreed in late 2022. The cap was designed to allow Russian oil to be sold to third countries using Western insurance services provided the price was no more than $60 a barrel. The European Union and Britain have been pushing to lower the price for weeks after a fall in global oil prices made the current $60 cap nearly irrelevant. The sources, who declined to be named, said the EU and Britain are ready to lead the charge and go it alone, backed by the other European G7 countries and Canada. They said it is still unclear what the U.S. will decide, though the Europeans are pushing for a united decision at the meeting. Japan's position also remains uncertain, they said. "There is a push among European countries to reduce the oil price cap to $45 from $60. There are positive signals from Canada, Britain and possibly the Japanese. We will use the G7 to try to get the U.S. on board," one of the sources said. The White House had no immediate comment. During the G7 finance ministers meeting in the Canadian Rockies last month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained unconvinced there was a need to lower the cap, according to sources. However some U.S. Senators may endorse the idea, including Lindsay Graham, who in recent weeks told reporters he supports lowering the cap. Graham is pushing a hard-hitting new set of Russia sanctions that could impose steep tariffs on buyers of Russian oil. The EU has proposed lowering the price to $45 a barrel in its latest 18th package of sanctions. The package must have unanimity from member states in order for it to be adopted, which could take several weeks. Russia's largest export grade, Urals, trades at around a $10 a barrel discount to the Dated Brent benchmark out of Baltic ports. Brent futures have been trading below $70 a barrel since early April. Sources said Washington's buy-in was not essential to lower the cap owing to Britain's dominance in global shipping insurance, and the EU's influence on the Western rules-abiding tanker fleet. The U.S., however, does matter when it comes to dollar-denominated payments for oil and its banking system. The EU and its Western allies have been progressively cracking down on Russia's shadow fleet of tankers and related actors, which work to circumvent the cap. The pressure has started to hurt Moscow's revenues and Western allies hope this will push more of the oil trade back under the cap. Russia's state-owned oil producer Rosneft reported a 14.4% slump in profits last year.
