Page 5 - The Indian EYE 110124

BIG STORY NOVEMBER 01, 2024 | The Indian Eye 5

Verma also asserted that the serted Khalistani extremists and ter-
RCMP is still conducting the in- rorists are challenging Indian territo-
vestigation. Reiterating his state- rial integrity and sovereignty.
ment about why Canada has not “These are Canadian citizens
approached the court, Verma said, challenging Indian territorial integri-
“What is stopping them from pre- ty and sovereignty. As long as these
senting to their court of law legally people, these Khalistani extremists
acceptable so-called evidence? So, and terrorists keep talking about
for all I know, there is no evidence. Canada, I have no issues. That’s their
These are hearsay. So even if you domestic issue. They can do whatev-
look at the Foreign Interference er they want. As soon as they look at
Commission hearings, it’s going on, dividing India, then it is my problem.
in the last phase. In most of the doc- And that problem, I will certainly
uments where India was mentioned, take to the Canadian authorities to
it says, in many instances, it says, this say that listen, you have to resolve
information is single-sourced,” Ver- this,” Verma said
ma said. “They want a country for them-
The recalled Indian envoy fur- selves. I would say if Canada wants
ther stated that Khalistani extrem- them to be there and they are so
ists and terrorists are all India bait- kind to them, Canada is a huge
ers and they do not have an interest country. Give a space to them, call it
in better Canada-India relations. Khalistan,” Verma said. He affirmed
“These Khalistani extremists and that “if Khalistan is to be made, it is
terrorists are all India baiters. They The ties between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the in Canada, never in India.”
do not have an interest in Canada-In- Canadian Parliament last year that he had “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing Verma said that the Khalistani
dia relations either on their mind, of Nijjar (File/Representative photo) elements had managed to build a nar-
better Canada-India relations. So, rative that they represented the Sikh
if you source your information like community in Canada which was not
that without any corroboration, sin- time he felt threatened physically? us would be, you know, being nice, true. “Indo-Canadian community is
gle-source information, you can draw Sanjay Verma replied, “ Threatened, nice cities. But then the final objec- those people who are Canadian cit-
whatever conclusion you want, but yes. But did I become threatened? tive of diplomacy happens to be to izens of Indian origin. 98% of them
that cannot be treated as evidence,” No. In most of my public events, safeguard your national interest. go about doing what they do living
he added. there will be these hooligans out- National interest could be improving peacefully, taking care of the family,
Sanjay Verma was recalled from side shouting slogans against India, relationships. National interest could contributing to the Canadian econ-
Canada after the country said he was but also against me. Some of them be raising awareness against these omy, etc. But others are very vocal.
a person of interest in the Hardeep are very burly-looking tall guys who Khalistani goons. All these are na- And as we have said that those babies
Singh Nijjar murder case; however, would also gesture to physically harm tional interests,” he said. who cry louder will get attention.”
he denied all charges levelled against me, but just the gestures, except for Sanjay Verma clearly said that Defending his remarks that
him by Ottawa. a few incidents. And so, they tried.” only a small percentage of Canadian some Khalistani extremists and ter-
Sanjay Kumar Verma, on Friday High Commissioner Verma said Sikhs supported the Khalistani cause rorists are “deep assets” of the Ca-
shared a terrifying moment when that he was there to serve India’s na- and if Canada cared about that then nadian Security Intelligence Service
Khalistani ‘goons’ came very close to tional interest and was committed to they should “give a place to them and (CSIS), Indian envoy Sanjay Kumar
bodily harm him and attacked him doing so. “So, diplomacy for most of call it Khalistan”. Sanjay Verma as- Verma has said that Canadian Prime
with a ‘sharp object’ most likely a ‘kir- Minister Justin Trudeau made alle-
pan’ in Alberta that could potentially gations against India “without evi-
harm him. Sanjay Verma said, “All dence” and he also made remarks in
these attempts to harm me bodily, the same vein.
that was in the presence of Royal Ca- He was asked if Canada will
nadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and accept his allegations of Khalistani
the local police and the local police terrorists and extremists are the
on the ground took immediate ac- deep assets of the Canadian intelli-
tion, pushed him away because there gence agency.
was a sharp weapon and the RCMP “As Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
then whisked me from the side door got up in parliament and accused
to the venue.” Govt of India agents to have orches-
“It was in Alberta. I am not an trated murder on Canadian soil, I said
expert on Canadian law about open in the same way that the Khalistani
carrying so I will not be able to say terrorists and extremists are the deep
that. But most likely they would have assets of the Canadian intelligence
said that it was ‘kirpan’ which is a agency. He (Trudeau) said without ev-
small blade whereas they had swords idence, and So am I. Will you accept
in their hand. They could come very, my conclusion? This is what I wanted
very close to me,” said Verma. to say that nothing should be accepted
When asked if the incident was without credible evidence, allegations
reported, Sanjay Verma said, “It was Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay leaves the Ministry of External Affairs are just allegations. Therefore, I am
all reported and we were told that in- (MEA) Headquarters after he was summoned by the MEA in a reciprocal move to Canada not exactly saying there are connec-
vestigations are on.” expelling a senior Indian diplomat, in New Delhi on Tuesday (ANI) tions but there may be connections,”
When asked if he at any point in Verma said.

www.TheIndianEYE.com