On Wednesday, the Congress asked the government to assure the leaders of the opposition in both the houses and ‘make their stand clear’ on India-Canada relations.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Union government should come clean on the allegations leveled by Justin Trudeau amid the ongoing standoff between the two countries.
“The Indian National Congress has already asked the Prime Minister to take the leaders of the opposition parties in both Houses of Parliament, and other political leaders, to confide in them about the serious charges leveled against the Indian government by the USA and Canada,” said Ramesh. .
Ramesh added that Congress’s demand was necessitated by ‘deteriorating India-Canada relations’ and growing concerns about India-US relations. He also said that the allegations made by Canada, supported by several other countries, threaten growth, tarnish India’s reputation around the world and damage Brand India.
“It is important that the Government of India quickly and clearly expresses its position on this issue. The opposition must be fully informed, as protecting India’s position in the world is a shared responsibility,” the document added.
The Congress leader emphasized that the government should hold the opposition on the issues of national security and foreign police, and act as one to protect its interests. Ramesh said “Our country’s image around the world as a faith-based and law-abiding country is at risk, and it is important that we work together to protect it”.
Jaiiram Ramesh’s request to the government came a day after India’s political relationship with Canada changed as Ottawa said Indian politicians were “persons of interest” based on the country’s investigation into Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September last year.
The Canadian government has accused India of direct ties to Nijjar’s killers, a claim India has vehemently denied, calling them “absurd”.
These incidents were followed by India returning its High Commissioner to Ottawa, along with other targeted politicians and officials, prompting Canada to expel six of them and leave the country at the end of the week.
India, in retaliation, expelled six Canadian diplomats, deepening the tension between the two countries.
On Wednesday, Trudeau, testifying before an inquiry into foreign interference, said Canadian organizations tried to work with India before he went public with the alleged killing of Nijjar.
However, he admitted that his government had only provided “intelligence and no evidence” to India about the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Source link