Canadian
Sikh community angry with PM Carney for inviting Modi to G7 summit
Canadian
Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to
the upcoming G7 summit, suggesting that India-Canada relations, which have been
cold in recent years, are on the mend.
The two
leaders spoke on the phone on Friday. According to Carney’s office, the
Canadian prime minister invited Modi to attend the G7 summit, which Modi
accepted. While the two leaders agreed to maintain contact.
Modi thanked
Carney on Twitter and said that the two would meet during the summit in
mid-June.
Former
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of killing a Sikh
separatist leader on his country’s soil, after which relations between the two
countries deteriorated. In June 2023, Hardeep Singh Najjar was shot dead
outside a gurdwara in British Columbia.
Najjar had
been calling for the creation of a separate state for Sikhs in India, known as
Khalistan. India accused him of terrorism and claimed that he was the head of
an armed separatist movement. Najjar's supporters deny these allegations.
Four Indian
nationals have been arrested since Najjar's death.
Trudeau alleged
that the Indian government was involved in the killing. The Royal Canadian
Mounted Police said there was strong evidence that India was involved in
violent acts on Canadian soil.
India
strongly denied the allegations. India and Canada expelled each other's
ambassadors and diplomats after the dispute.
Carney's
response to Modi's invitation
Canada's
Sikh community has criticized Carney for inviting Modi, but the Canadian prime
minister has defended the decision. Although India is not a member of the G7,
Modi has attended several previous meetings.
Speaking to
reporters on Friday, Carney, the host of the G7 meeting, said that it is
important to have specific countries at the table during important discussions.
According to
a Canadian statement, Carney and Modi agreed to "continue to discuss law
enforcement and security concerns."
When asked
if Modi was involved in the murder of Najjar, Carney replied that it would be
inappropriate to comment on it during the legal process.
Canada's
Sikh community has condemned the decision to invite Modi. The World Sikh
Organization says it is tantamount to "betraying Sikh Canadian
cities." While the Sikh Federation of Canada has called it
"insulting."
Najjar was a
popular leader of the Sikh community in British Columbia. His supporters say he
was targeted for threats because of the Khalistan movement.
The trial
date for the four men arrested on charges of Najjar's murder has not yet been
set.
The G7
summit will be held from June 15 to 17. Its agenda includes international peace
and security, global economic stability and digital transformation.
Apart from
India, Canada has also invited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, but she has
not yet decided to attend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albinez will also attend the G7 summit.
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