Page 24 - The Indian EYE 071924

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 24

Another row as Canada accuses India

of interference as Trudeau sparks anger

with a post on Diljit Dosanjh

BJP attacks Canadian Prime Minister for a post in which praised the Indian singer

Diljit Dosanjh but mentioned his association only with Punjab and not India

OUR BUREAU
Ottawa/New Delhi

ndia has expressed its dissatisfac-
tion with Ottawa regarding recent
Iaccusations of interference in
Canada’s domestic matters. India has
been accused by multiple agencies of
engaging in foreign interference in
their reports. The NSCIOP declared
in June that India has become the
second biggest foreign interference
threat to Canada’s democratic institu-
tions and processes, displacing Russia
and after China.
The Canadian Security Intelli-
gence Service (CSIS) highlighted in
its Public Report 2023 in May that
significant actors of foreign interfer-
ence and espionage in Canada and
the West consist of China, Russia,
Iran, and India. In 2023, these states
and their intelligence services per-
sisted in participating in a range of
unfriendly foreign interference and
espionage activities to promote their
goals and interests. Committee Members of IASCAOHC with Chairman Jatinder Bakshi and Commissioner Bill O’DEA and President Dipak Valsadia
The Public Inquiry’s Initial Re-
port on Foreign Interference in Can- the House of Commons on Septem- in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Can- Diljit made us all feel very proud...
ada’s Electoral Processes and Dem- ber 18 last year about “credible al- ada on Sunday. Later when he (Canadian PM Justin
ocratic Institutions, led by Justice legations” of a possible connection In his social media post, Trudeau Trudeau) expressed his feelings for
Marie-Josee Hogue, accused India between Indian agents and the mur- heaped praise on Diljit and said that Diljit Dosanjh, he did not even think
of meddling to sway Canada’s stance der of pro-Khalistan figure Hard- Canada is a great country where a that it was right to take the name of
towards Indian interests, especially eep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British “guy from Punjab” can make history India. A Prime Minister should not
concerning supporters of Khalistan. Columbia three months prior, these and sell out stadiums. have done this as the post of Prime
In a statement issued last week accusations have gained more at- “Stopped by the Rogers Centre Minister has a very big dignity. He
by India’s High Commissioner to Ot- tention. Even though four Indian to wish @diljitdosanjh good luck be- should have maintained that dignity
tawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma said, “We Nationals have been arrested in con- fore his show. Canada is a great coun- and tweeted accordingly,” Sirsa said
completely reject politically motivat- nection with the murder, the Indian try -- one where a guy from Punjab in a video message.
ed claims that India has interfered aspect has not been confirmed yet, can make history and sell out stadi- Prior to this, he also replied on
in Canadian elections. No concrete but the investigation in that direction ums. Diversity isn’t just our strength. Trudeau’s post and called his not
evidence has been shared for these is still ongoing. It’s a super power,” the Canadian PM naming of India as a “deliberate mis-
claims to be evaluated. These allega- Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata said on social media. chief through wordplay.”
tions could, most probably, be based Party has attacked Canadian Prime BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sir- “Let me correct this, Mr. Prime
on hearsay, possibly peddled by Can- Minister Justin Trudeau over his post sa attacked Trudeau saying he didn’t Minister- where one guy from IN-
ada based anti-India extremists and with Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh, in mention the name of India and by DIA can make history and sell out
terrorists, whose sole aim is to disrupt which he praised the actor but men- doing this, he hurt the dignity of his stadiums. Your gesture of lauding
Canada-India relations and meddle tioned his association only with Pun- position. a fantastic artist like @diljitdosan-
in India’s internal affairs.” jab and not India. PM Trudeau made “The concert of Diljit Dosan- jh has been totally overshadowed
Following Canadian Prime Min- a surprise entry ahead of his perfor- jh was good...The picture posted by by your deliberate mischief through
ister Justin Trudeau’s statement in mance at Rogers Centre, a stadium Canadian PM Justin Trudeau with wordplay,” Sirsa said on X.

www.TheIndianEYE.com