A banner with the image of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

India on June 21 was critical of the Canadian parliament observing “one minute silence” in the memory of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.

“We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

In an unusual move, the Canadian parliament observed “one minute silence” two days ago in memory of Nijjar.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing.

New Delhi rejected Mr. Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra last week said India’s main issue with Canada continues to be the political space that Ottawa provides to anti-India elements which advocate extremism and violence.

India has repeatedly conveyed its “deep concerns” to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements, he said.

Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 last year.

The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Ottawa:

Canada’s prime minister said Monday the singling out of a Ukrainian veteran alleged to have fought for the Nazis during World War II for a standing ovation during a visit by Kyiv’s leader was shameful and intolerable.

The speaker of Canada’s parliament, Anthony Rota, has apologised for the gaffe.

He’d paid homage to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant, during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Canada on Friday, telling the House of Commons Hunka had “fought for Ukrainian independence.”

It was later pointed out that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this was “clearly unacceptable.”

“This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians,” he told reporters.

A small faction allied with Trudeau’s Liberals called for Rota to resign while the main opposition Conservatives slammed the Trudeau administration for failing to properly vet Hunka, despite claims it had no advance notice he’d been invited to the event.

A Jewish advocacy group called the incident “shocking” and “incredibly disturbing.”

Rota, a Liberal MP, apologised on Sunday, saying that he had “subsequently become aware of more information” which caused him to “regret” his recognition of Hunka.

“This initiative was entirely my own… I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world,” he said, repeating his comments on Monday in the House.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)