Latest news with #WorldSikhOrganizationofCanada
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Why PM Modi's Canada Visit For G7 Is Significant? Four Key Firsts During His Trip
Last Updated: This will be PM Modi's first meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Carney since the latter took office Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Alberta, Canada later this month to attend the G7 Summit from June 15 to 17. The visit, confirmed after a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is seen as highly significant, both diplomatically and strategically, as it comes despite ongoing tensions between the two nations. Canada currently holds the G7 presidency, and Carney extended the invitation, saying India, as the world's most populous country and fifth largest economy, must be part of important global discussions. 'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains," Carney said. Why PM Modi's Canada Visit Matters? First Modi-Carney Meeting This will be PM Modi's first meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Carney since the latter took office. Carney, during his campaign, underlined that India is an 'incredibly important" partner for Canada. He acknowledged the strain in relations but expressed hope for a forward-looking dialogue based on mutual respect. The invitation was not without controversy — pro-Khalistani groups, including the World Sikh Organization of Canada, criticised the move, citing unresolved concerns over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Despite the pressure, Carney defended the decision, stating that India's role in global affairs made its presence at the G7 essential. This will also be PM Modi's first visit to Canada since relations soured under former PM Justin Trudeau. Last year, Trudeau publicly accused India of being linked to the killing of Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist, in British Columbia. The fallout saw tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and the lowest point in India-Canada relations in recent history. This trip also marks PM Modi's first foreign engagement since India's military operation, Operation Sindoor, launched last month in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The operation led to a brief military standoff with Pakistan. The visit will be closely watched as it comes on the heels of these developments, showing India's intent to remain engaged on global platforms even amid regional tensions. Modi-Trump First Encounter Since Tariff Row, India-Pak Truce Claim Another closely watched moment at the G7 could be PM Modi's interaction with US President Donald Trump. This would be their first meeting since Trump imposed a 26% tariff on Indian goods earlier this year — a decision later paused. Trump has also claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a claim India has firmly rejected. New has always maintained that the decision to pause military actions was coordinated between the two nations' military leaderships, not mediated by any third party.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Carney Invites Modi to G7 Summit despite Strained Ties between Canada and India
The Canadian Press via AP Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives to hold a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 6, 2025. TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta later this month, an invitation Modi accepted despite strained ties between the countries. The countries expelled each other's top diplomats last year over the killing of a Sikh Canadian activist in Canada and allegations of other crimes. The invitation prompted anger from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi. Tensions remain high between Canada and India over accusations about Indian government agents being involved in the murder of a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism in British Columbia in 2023. Carney extended the invitation to Modi in a phone call between the two leaders on Friday. The summit runs from June 15 to 17. Carney noted Canada is in the role of G7 chair and said there are important discussions that India should be a part of. 'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains,' Carney told reporters, adding that there has been some progress on law enforcement dialogue between the two countries. 'I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi and, in that context, he has accepted,' Carney said. Carney said there is a legal process underway in the killing of the Canadian Sikh activist and said he would not comment on the case when asked by a reporter if he thought Modi was involved. The tit-for-tat expulsions came after Canada told India that its top diplomat in the country is a person of interest in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and that police have uncovered evidence of an intensifying campaign against Canadian citizens by agents of the Indian government. Modi said he was glad to receive a call from Carney and congratulated him on his recent election victory. 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit,' Modi said in a social media statement. Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot in his pickup truck after he left the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. An Indian-born citizen of Canada, he owned a plumbing business and was a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland. Four Indian nationals living in Canada were charged with Niijar's murder. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, called Carney's invitation to Modi a 'betrayal of Canadian values.' 'The summit to which Mr. Modi is being invited falls on the anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago,' he said. 'So for us, this is unacceptable, it's shocking and it's a complete reversal of the principled stand that Prime Minister Trudeau had taken.' Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an association on foreign soil. In 2023 U.S. prosecutors said an Indian government official directed a failed plot to assassinate another Sikh separatist leader in New York.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Carney defends inviting Modi to G7 as probe of Nijjar's killing continues
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit later this month — despite the fact that security officials have linked Modi's government to the murder of a Canadian man two years ago. Carney extended the invitation to Modi during a phone call Friday morning and Modi accepted. The summit runs from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alta. During a Friday afternoon press conference on Parliament Hill, Carney said that the G7 summit will focus on forging partnerships with emerging and developing nations. He said it makes sense to have India at the table because it's one of the world's largest economies and plays a key role in global supply chains. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Bilaterally, we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that. That recognizes issues of accountability,' Carney said. 'I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.' 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit,' Modi said in a social media statement. Modi's comment did not mention the 'law enforcement dialogue' cited by Carney. India's ministry of external affairs issued a statement Friday with similar wording to Modi's comment. Both congratulated Carney on his recent electoral victory. The invitation prompted an angry reaction from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi. Tensions have been high between Canada and India since then-prime minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons in September 2023 that 'agents of the Indian government' had been linked to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism shot to death outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said Carney's invitation to Modi is a 'betrayal of Canadian values.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'The summit to which Mr. Modi is being invited falls on the anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago,' he said. 'So for us, this is unacceptable, it's shocking and it's a complete reversal of the principled stand that Prime Minister Trudeau had taken.' At the time of his death, Nijjar was organizing a non-binding referendum in Canada on establishing a Sikh state in Punjab, to be called Khalistan. The Indian government rejected Trudeau's accusation and said Canada was supporting 'Khalistani terrorists.' In May 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested and charged in connection with Nijjar's death. In October 2024, the RCMP said it had evidence linking agents of India's government to homicides and other criminal acts in Canada, including coercion and extortion. Soon after, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in relation to what it called 'a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada said it had asked India to waive diplomatic and consular immunities 'and to co-operate in the investigation,' but India declined. India responded in kind by expelling six diplomats, including Canada's high commissioner. On Oct. 17, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Asked about his decision to invite Modi as unanswered questions remain about Nijjar's death, Carney said that it's never appropriate for a leader to talk about a legal process while it is ongoing. Singh said that the World Sikh Organization wrote Carney a letter on May 21 asking that Modi not be invited to the G7. While India is not a G7 member, the country has been invited to the summit by the host nation every year since 2019. 'We didn't want to make this into a public issue but there was no response. There was no acknowledgment of receipt. But this is, it really boggles the mind,' Singh said. 'How can a country that has engaged in criminal operations in Canada, which is engaged in multiple murders, extortions, receive a red-carpet welcome?' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW When asked what his message is for people who are worried about Modi's invitation, Carney said the 'rule of law is proceeding as it should in Canada, and I am not going to disrupt that process.' Naresh Raghubeer, a Canada-India relations expert, said that it's important for Carney to attempt to reset the relationship with the Modi government. 'Let policing matters be dealt with at the policing level, and bilateral relationships that transcend those other matters should be dealt with bilaterally. They're more important considerations,' Raghubeer said. 'I think at the end of the day, a relationship with the world's fourth largest economy, the world's most populous nation, a democratic ally that shares our values, is quite important.' Last week, former prime minister Stephen Harper urged Canada to forge a new path with India during a speech at an event in Brampton, Ont. During a press conference, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said 'we need to work with India and other countries on trade and security.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'So we as Conservatives understand that the invitation is necessary and that we want to see the government work on addressing security issues at the same time as they have when the prime minister has those conversations with the Prime Minster Modi,' Poilievre added. During the final days of the federal election campaign, former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said that in December 2023 he was put under heavy police protection due to a credible threat to his life. He said the RCMP did not identify a specific source for the threat but the implication was that it originated with a foreign government. NDP national security critic Jenny Kwan and foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson condemned the invitation in a joint statement and said they stand with the Sikh community. 'Canadians expect the government to stand in solidarity with Canadians who have expressed their concerns about the (Bharatiya Janata Party) government's record and human rights violations in India,' said McPherson. 'Some of these Canadians live in fear of threat of reprisal against themselves and their families. Canada must stand on the side of human rights, justice, and accountability not diplomatic expediency.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Kwan said that the government 'must explain how justice and human rights are being upheld through this invitation.' Balpreet Singh said the World Sikh Organization doesn't plan on sending further correspondence to the prime minister about Modi's invitation. 'What's the point? I mean, we sent something out on May 21 and received no response,' he said. 'And clearly, our voices don't matter to him.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are among the other non-member world leaders invited to the summit. As of May 28, Sheinbaum had not said whether she would attend. — With files from The Associated Press This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 6, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. 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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carney defends inviting Modi to G7 after RCMP linked India to murders and extortion
Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta just months after the RCMP accused his government of acts of murder, extortion and coercion. As this year's chair of the G7, Carney said it's important to have India at the table in Kananaskis while world leaders discuss issues including energy security and critical minerals, given the country's size and key role in the global supply chain. He said he consulted with the other G7 leaders on the decision. Carney also suggested India is now more willing to co-operate with ongoing Canadian investigations. "We have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that," Carney said during a Friday news conference. "I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted." The invitation, announced earlier Friday morning, garnered swift condemnation given Canada's public accusation that members of the Indian government are involved in plots to stoke fear and cause harm on Canadian soil. Last fall, the RCMP laid out allegations accusing agents of the Indian government of playing a role in "widespread violence" in Canada, including homicides, and warned that it poses "a serious threat to our public safety." That came after Canada accused Indian government agents of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism. WATCH | Carney defends decision: The World Sikh Organization of Canada said the decision caused "outrage and pain" within the Sikh community across Canada. "For Sikhs in Canada, this is a betrayal, not just of our community, but of core Canadian values," said president Danish Singh in a statement. The Sikh Federation of Canada called the trip "a grave insult." The group said Nijjar's 2023 shooting death outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., was "part of a co-ordinated effort to silence dissent and terrorize our community." Alleged involvement at 'highest levels' RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme has said the Mounties have strong evidence showing the "highest levels" of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence on Canadian soil, including homicides, coercion and extortion. Duheme said police evidence shows Indian diplomats and consular staff collected information and brought that information to the Indian government, at which point instructions would be fed to criminal organizations to carry out acts of violence. There's been no suggestion from officials that the alleged campaign of violence has ended. The RCMP's comments came nearly a year after then prime minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the killing Nijjar. Rising in the House of Commons in September 2023, Trudeau said Canadian security agencies were pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and Nijjar's death A Canadian citizen, Nijjar was a prominent local leader in the Khalistan movement pushing for the creation of an independent Sikh state in India. Four Indian nationals are accused in the alleged assassination plot and their cases are before a B.C. court. New Delhi has denied the allegations and has accused Canada of supporting "Khalistani terrorists." Leaders from the G7 countries — Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — along with the president of the European Commission are heading to Alberta for high-level meetings June 16 and 17. Sikh group calls invite a 'betrayal' Modi has been invited to every G7 leaders' summit since 2019, but Carney had been under pressure from Sikh organizations to break with that tradition. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the invitation "necessary," saying Canada needs to work with India on trade and security files. "India has been at the last six G7 conferences. It's one of the biggest and fastest-growing economies in the world. We need to sell our natural gas, our civilian nuclear power technology and other resource projects to India," he said Friday. "We want to see the government work on addressing security issues at the same time when the prime minister has those conversations."Trudeau met with Modi on the sidelines of the Italy G7 last June, but relations between the two countries remained terse. When the RCMP went public with its investigation, Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials "in relation to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the government of India." Global Affairs Canada said that it had asked India to waive diplomatic and consular immunities "and to co-operate in the investigation," but India declined. India responded by expelling six diplomats, including Canada's high commissioner. The Liberal government under Carney has shown a willingness to thaw relations with India. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said she had a "productive discussion" with her Indian counterpart last month on "deepening our economic co-operation and advancing shared priorities." During the recent federal election campaign, Carney called the Canadian-Indian relationship "incredibly important." "There are strains on that relationship that we didn't cause, to be clear," he said. "But there is a path forward to address those with mutual respect." In a social media post Friday, Modi wrote that he looks forward to meeting at the summit. "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests," he wrote.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Carney invites Modi to G7 summit despite strained ties between Canada and India
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta later this month, an invitation Modi accepted despite strained ties between the countries. The countries expelled each other's top diplomats last year over the killing of a Sikh Canadian activist in Canada and allegations of other crimes. The invitation prompted anger from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi. Tensions remain high between Canada and India over accusations about Indian government agents being involved in the murder of a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism in British Columbia in 2023. Carney extended the invitation to Modi in a phone call between the two leaders on Friday. The summit runs from June 15 to 17. Carney noted Canada is in the role of G7 chair and said there are important discussions that India should be a part of. 'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains,' Carney told reporters, adding that there has been some progress on law enforcement dialogue between the two countries. 'I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi and, in that context, he has accepted,' Carney said. Carney said there is a legal process underway in the killing of the Canadian Sikh activist and said he would not comment on the case when asked by a reporter if he thought Modi was involved. The tit-for-tat expulsions came after Canada told India that its top diplomat in the country is a person of interest in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and that police have uncovered evidence of an intensifying campaign against Canadian citizens by agents of the Indian government. Modi said he was glad to receive a call from Carney and congratulated him on his recent election victory. 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit,' Modi said in a social media statement. Nijjar, 45, was fatally shot in his pickup truck after he left the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. An Indian-born citizen of Canada, he owned a plumbing business and was a leader in what remains of a once-strong movement to create an independent Sikh homeland. Four Indian nationals living in Canada were charged with Niijar's murder. Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an association on foreign soil. In 2023 U.S. prosecutors said an Indian government official directed a failed plot to assassinate another Sikh separatist leader in New York. Gillies writes for the Associated Press.
