India-Canada ties – Artifex.News

Indian Envoy Calls Canada MPs’ Interference Charge “Politically Motivated”

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:55:20 +0000

Sanjay Verma’s remarks were the first formal response by India to the report.

Ottawa:

India has said a report by Canadian legislators alleging interference by New Delhi is politically motivated and influenced by Sikh separatists.

Already chilly bilateral ties cooled further last month when a group of parliamentarians, citing intelligence reports, alleged some elected Canadian officials had been “witting or semi-witting” participants in foreign interference operations.

India and China were the main foreign threats to Canada’s democratic institutions, it said.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, India’s envoy to Canada, said the report was biased, did not give a fair hearing to India and did not give an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses.

“It has been influenced by anti-India elements … you need to come out with infallible evidence. I don’t see any hint of that,” he told Reuters.

“This is all politically motivated…if Canadian institutions are bent upon harm(ing) bilateral relations with India, that will happen.”

His remarks were the first formal response by India to the report, which triggered demands by opposition legislators for the government to name those under suspicion.

New Delhi accuses Canada of harboring Khalistani terrorists.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited credible allegations of Indian government involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in the Canadian province of British Columbia in June 2023.

“There is a lot of political space given to Khalistani terrorists in Canada and therefore I would expect them to have influenced the entire process through their representatives,” Mr Verma said.

The special committee of legislators, asked about Mr Verma’s criticism, said the “committee speaks to and through its reports” and noted it had spoken to the country’s two intelligence agencies, the police service, the public safety ministry, and studied 4,000 documents.

The offices of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly referred queries to the public safety ministry, which said it would allow the committee to speak to the report.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada, an Ottawa-based Sikh advocacy group, called Mr Verma’s remarks “baseless and unprofessional” and said the committee had operated with complete independence.

Canada is pressing India to cooperate with the investigation into the murder of Nijjar.

Mr Verma said Canada had yet not shared any evidence with India, following media reports that Canadian intelligence agency officials visited India twice this year.

Last month, the Canadian police arrested and charged four Indian men on suspicion of Nijjar’s murder.

The killing prompted Canada to pause talks on a proposed trade treaty. The two nations had been talking off and on since 2010 about a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

“If Canada decides to (ask) us to resume talks … we will take a call,” Mr Verma said.

Even as diplomatic relations deteriorate, bilateral trade in goods and services surpassed $25 billion last year, Mr Verma said, adding it would grow this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India-Canada spat broadens existing visa woes for Indians travellers

admin — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 16:42:04 +0000

A protester races his fist as he speaks, during a protest outside India’s consulate, a week after Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of New Delhi’s involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 25, 2023.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

When Dilpreet Singh Chandhoke applied for a Canadian visa in April this year, he hoped to visit his sister’s family in Canada within a few days. His brother-in-law had been diagnosed with a terminal ailment, and as her eldest brother, he wanted to be at his sister’s side in her family’s hour of crisis.

Based in Dubai, the 42-year-old had not faced any problems travelling for work. However, the days of waiting turned into weeks and then months, until Canadian authorities responded on October 12, rejecting his visa application, saying, “The purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details you have provided in your application.”

“As a 42-year old Indian passport holder who has his family in Delhi and Dubai, I have no desire to shift all the way to Canada. My sole purpose is to be with my sister who is facing a heartbreaking situation because of my brother in law’s ailment. This rejection is totally irrational,” Mr. Chandhoke told The Hindu. He is determined to appeal the rejection, arguing that his brother-in-law may not live long.

‘Row hurts common people’

With Canada stopping “walk-in” services at its consulates in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh, in response to India’s demand for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in the country, Mr. Chandhoke’s plight may soon be witnessed by more visa applicants across the country.

Mr. Chandhoke feels that his visa application was a collateral victim of the ongoing spat between India and Canada, which erupted after Canada accused Indian agents of being behind the June 18 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Khalistan Tiger Force chief, in Surrey, British Columbia. India has already stopped providing visa services to Canadian citizens at its missions across the world, and the Canadian move is now aimed at hurting Indians, he said. “That is the only reason that has hurt my visa prospects. Why should we, the common people, suffer if governments of two countries are caught up in a quarrel?” he asked.

However, even without a diplomatic row to complicate matters, many Indian visa seekers have been hit hard by long application processes and unexplained rejections.

Missed opportunities

Faizan Mohammed of Khajuraho and his friend Anurag Kumar of Delhi, both tourism consultants, had recently applied for Spanish visas, in hopes of studying the Spanish language in Madrid. “My clients in Khajuraho are mostly from Spain and Italy and that is why I had applied for a higher degree at N L College in Madrid. We had shown all the necessary documents including financial viability, but finally the visa was denied after a month-long waiting period,” Mr. Mohammed said. As he was required to submit his Indian passport to the Spanish embassy for the month-long visa process, he missed out on applying for another opportunity in Oman, he complained.

The tourist consultants say they had also paid 2,600 euros each for the course, even before getting their visas. “We have paid our fees and can’t join the course that we were planning to complete. In addition, the N L College is not returning our money which they are rule-bound to return within 20 days,” said Mr. Kumar.

Several embassies, including the U.S. embassy, have claimed that they have taken strong measures to remedy the backlog and make visa services effective and quick, but human experiences on the ground show that much remains to be implemented. As visas are documents granted by a sovereign state to foreign citizens to facilitate time-bound travel to the host country, they are within their right to reject applications. Yet, such applications also carry the dreams and aspirations of applicants, and a visa denial often leaves a traumatic imprint.

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Trudeau says Canada not looking to ‘escalate’ situation, vows to engage constructively with India

admin — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:51:32 +0000

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to media outside his office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 3, 2023.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said Canada was not looking to “escalate” the situation with India amid the diplomatic row between the two countries over the killing of a Khalistani separatist and asserted that his government will continue to have “constructive relations” with New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Mr. Trudeau also said that it’s important for Canada to have diplomats on the ground in India, amid a report by London-based Financial Times that New Delhi wants as many as 41 of 62 remaining Canadian diplomats out of the country, the Toronto Sun newspaper reported.

“Obviously, we’re going through an extremely challenging time with India right now,” Mr. Trudeau was quoted as saying by the Canadian newspaper.

He, however, did not confirm the FT report that India has asked Canada to withdraw 41 of 62 diplomats from the country.

Asked if his government would retaliate by asking India to remove diplomats based in Canada, Mr. Trudeau insisted his government would try to keep working with New Delhi.

“We’re not looking to escalate, as I’ve said, we’re going to be doing the work that matters in continuing to have constructive relations with India through this extremely difficult time,” Mr. Trudeau was quoted as saying by the state-run CBC News.

Tensions flared between India and Canada last month following Mr. Trudeau’s allegations of “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India angrily rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Nijjar was shot dead by two masked gunmen. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

Last month, India asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada.

India also asked Canada to come down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told journalists in Washington last week that the governments of India and Canada will have to talk to each other and see how they resolve their differences over the issue and underlined that the larger issue of “permissiveness” must be flagged and addressed.

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U.S. and India mum on Canada spat in describing Jaishankar Blinken meet

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 01:59:29 +0000

The two ministers discussed the recently launched India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and India’s G20 presidency. They also discussed, as per the readout, cooperation in defence, space and clean energy in the context of the upcoming ‘2+2’ dialogue between the countries’ finance and defence ministers, the next session of which will be held in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

In describing the meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the U.S. State Department stayed clear of any mention of the discord between India and Canada. Neither minister mentioned the issue explicitly while characterising their conversation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had made an explosive allegation on September 18 that Indian Government agents had killed a Canadian Khalistani separatist , Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia earlier this year. India has denied any involvement in the slaying.

On Thursday, Mr. Jaishankar said that he had “exchanged notes on global developments” with Mr. Blinken and the State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller’s readout of the meeting said that the two ministers had discussed “ a full range of issues”.

Notwithstanding the State Department readout’s wording, U.S. officials have publicly encouraged the government to cooperate with the Canadian investigation.

‘The Americans have been with us’ : Trudeau

“The Americans have been with us in speaking to the Indian government about how important it is that they be involved in following up on the credible allegations that agents of the Indian government killed a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil,” Mr. Trudeau was heard saying on Thursday, in a CTV clip of his press conference in Quebec. The U.S. and Canada are neighbours as well as allies, including via the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Five Eyes intelligence partnership.

“This is something that all democratic countries, all countries that respect the rule, need to take seriously and we are moving forward in a thoughtful, responsible way, anchored in the rule of law with all of our partners, including in our approach with the Government of India,” Mr. Trudeau said.

Asked about his view on Mr. Blinken going ahead with the meeting with Mr. Jaishankar , despite the allegations against New Delhi Mr. Trudeau described India as a “growing economic power” and “important geopolitical player” and said it was “extremely important” that everyone continue to “engage constructively and seriously” with the Government of India. Citing Canada’s Indo Pacific Strategy, Mr. Trudeau said Ottawa was “very serious” about building closer ties with India. He said that as a “rule of law country” , Canada would need to work with India, to ensure it got all the facts with regard to the killing of Mr. Nijjar.

Jaishankar Meets Lawmakers in Washington

In addition to meeting U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Mr Jaishankar, on Thursday, met with Members of Congress (including Indian American lawmakers Ro Khanna and Rajakrishnamurthi ) at India House, the official residence of the Indian Ambassador. Mr Jaishankar had also met with think tanks on Thursday.

Mr Jaishankar interacted with industry heads at an event organised by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, an advocacy group. There was a discussion at this meeting about opportunities emerging from US-India collaboration , such as in the fields of critical and emerging technology and supply chains.

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Morning Digest | EAM Jaishankar meets Blinken amid India-Canada diplomatic row; three killed in Rotterdam twin shootings, and more

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 01:12:21 +0000

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar say a few words to the news media as they meet at the State Department in Washington, U.S. on September 28, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Jaishankar meets Blinken, Sullivan in Washington

Kicking off the Washington segment of his U.S. trip, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. As The Hindu went to press, Mr. Jaishankar was also in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meetings are routine but also particularly significant given the recent and serious diplomatic challenges in the India-Canada relationship following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian Government was linked to the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader in British Columbia.

Two killed in Rotterdam twin shootings

Two people have been killed and a teenager is fighting for her life after a 32-year-old gunman opened fire at a house and a hospital in Rotterdam on Thursday. Dutch police said they were still investigating the motive for the twin attacks by the man dressed in combat gear, who also set fire to the hospital.

Mob tries to storm Manipur CM’s home

A mob tried to storm the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at Heingang in Imphal East on Thursday evening, amid simmering anger over the murder of two Meitei students who went missing in July. The photos of their bodies surfaced on social media earlier this week, leading to agitations and demonstrations by students.

Centre extends deadline for Manipur to record details of illegal migrants

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has extended its deadline for the Manipur government to record details of illegal migrants in the State, including biometric details. Although the State was due to complete the exercise by September 30, it has now been granted an additional six months till March 31, 2024.

Canadian police say probe into killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar ‘active and ongoing’

The killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains an “active and ongoing investigation”, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have said. Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

Afghanistan embassy announces shutdown citing lack of MEA support

Two years after the Taliban took over Kabul, the Afghanistan Embassy to India informed the government that it was being forced to close down, given the lack of resources with the Taliban regime and blamed the Indian Government for not supporting it despite several requests.

RS Chairman Dhankhar signs women‘s reservation Bill; to be placed before President for her assent

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on September 28 signed the women’s reservation Bill as passed by Parliament before it was presented to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent. The Constitution Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with near unanimity and the Rajya Sabha with unanimity during a special session of Parliament earlier this month.

Elderly have low awareness about welfare schemes, says India Ageing Report 2023

The awareness among the elderly population among the social welfare schemes in the country remains low, the recently published India Ageing Report 2023 has pointed out. The report, produced by the United Nations Population Fund, India, in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences, throws light on the challenges, opportunities, and institutional responses surrounding elderly care in India as the country’s elderly are likely to make up 20% of the country’s population by 2050.

Auto driver arrested in Ujjain rape case

An autorickshaw driver, who was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl he found on the streets of Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, sustained injuries while attempting to escape from police custody on September 28, investigators said. Earlier this week, the girl, who was left semi-clad and bleeding after the sexual assault, was found wandering the streets of the holy town.

Karnataka bandh call likely to affect normal life in Bengaluru today

Bengaluru is gearing up for yet another bandh scheduled for Friday, as Kannada organisations have declared a day-long shutdown across the state opposing releasing Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. This bandh is expected to disrupt the daily lives of residents, with the possibility of private and public transport going off roads, shops, eateries and theatres shutting down, even as schools and colleges have been declared a holiday, as a precautionary measure.

Cricket World Cup 2023 | R. Ashwin replaces injured Axar Patel in India’s final World Cup squad

India have predictably named veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as a replacement for injured spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel in their 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup, ICC announced on Thursday.

Sena Split | Cross-examination set for November 23, Sena (UBT) criticises delay

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has announced that the cross-examination process, related to disqualification petitions filed by Shiv Sena MLAs, will commence on November 23. According to the schedule issued by Mr. Narwekar, cross-examination will be held twice a week.

Indian, French Army Chiefs exchange lessons from war in Ukraine

Pointing to the strategic partnership between India and France and the close cooperation between the two Navies and Air Forces, French Army Chief General Pierre Schill said the two Armies were also looking to deepen cooperation with more exercises and sharing best practices among others.

Heavy rain likely in West Bengal, Odisha over weekend

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Morning Digest | Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh for another six months; ‘High level of military tension’ with China over last three years, says EAM Jaishankar, and more

admin — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 01:14:35 +0000

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, beginning October 1. Image for representation purpose only. File

U.S. calls for ‘full and fair investigation’ into Canada’s allegations against India

The United States has said there ought to be a full and fair investigation into Canada’s allegations that the Indian government was involved in the killing of a separatist Sikh leader in British Columbia earlier this year. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said this at a news conference on Tuesday.

CBI team led by Special Director to probe ‘killing’ of two students in Manipur

The Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director, Ajay Bhatnagar, will be leaving for Manipur on Wednesday by a special flight along with a team of officers to probe the suspected death of two Meitei students, said agency sources.

Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh for another six months

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months, beginning October 1. The Act gives unbridled power to the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and protection from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government’s sanction.

Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers as he built real estate empire, judge rules

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Told Canada it is not government policy: Jaishankar on Nijjar killing

In the latest round of sparring between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last June, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the government had told the Canadian Government that it was not its “policy“ to engage in such acts.

‘High level of military tension’ with China over last three years: EAM Jaishankar

There has been a “high level of military tension” with China over the last three years, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said, characterizing the overall state of “ very abnormal” relations between New Delhi and Beijing since the border clashes of 2020.

Karnataka told to release 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu till October 15

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) at its meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday decided that Karnataka should release 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu from September 28 to October 15.

Cheetahs may be flown in from new countries

With six adult cheetahs dying within the first year of their relocation to India, wildlife experts associated with Project Cheetah are considering options of importing the next batch of big cats from countries other than South Africa and Namibia. A final decision is awaited.

Canadian Parliament speaker quits after publicly praising former Nazi soldier

The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons lower chamber on September 26 said he would quit, a few days after he publicly praised a former Nazi soldier in Parliament in an incident that Russia said helped justify its war on Ukraine.

Centre asks States to promote heat tolerant wheat seeds in the rabi season

The Union government on Tuesday held an interaction with the States on the preparedness for the upcoming rabi crop season in the background of a 5% decrease in monsoon in this year. The Centre has asked States to promote heat resilient and high yielding varieties of wheat among farmers.

Promote khadi, Prime Minister tells students

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged students to promote khadi as a fashion statement in colleges and universities, which could emerge as hubs for the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement.

Taliban seek economic support and recognition from India ahead of Kazan meeting under Moscow format

Ahead of the Moscow format discussion at Kazan in Russia, the Taliban have called upon India to help in the economic recovery of Afghanistan. The discussion scheduled to be held on September 29 is significant from the regional point of view as this is the first such meeting after China increased engagement with the Taliban and sent a new Ambassador to Kabul earlier this month.

SC to hear Chandrababu Naidu’s plea for relief on September 27

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna is scheduled to hear on September 27 a petition filed by Telugu Desam Party national president and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu against an Andhra Pradesh High Court order refusing to quash FIRs against him in the multi-crore skill development scam case.

Bhavani Devi loses in Asian Games quarterfinals, questions referee’s calls in loss to Chinese fencer

Bhavani Devi registered an impressive series of five wins in the morning to enter the knockout stages of the women’s sabre individual fencing event before bowing out to local favourite Yaqi Shao 15-7 in the quarterfinals. The Chinese, who has also been a training partner for Bhavani, won 15-7, racing to a 7-2 lead in the first period even before Bhavani could find her footing. She questioned some of the early decisions from the referee, even challenging them early on.

Canadian PM prone to ‘outrageous’ allegations, says Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Sabry

Weighing in on the recent diplomatic row between India and Canada regarding the killing of Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making “outrageous allegations”, and remarked that some “terrorists have found a safe haven in Canada”.

U.S. sues Amazon for breaking antitrust law, harming consumers

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com on September 26, charging the online retailer with harming consumers with higher prices in the latest U.S. government legal action aimed at breaking Big Tech’s dominance of the internet.

‘Cannot bend rules of state to state interactions’: Canada’s U.N. Ambassador Rae

More than a week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that agents of the Indian government were involved in the June assassination of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, the country’s Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) reiterated Ottawa’s concerns about foreign interference and rules of state to state interaction.

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Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India-Canada News, Justin Trudeau, Narendra Modi:Canada Asks Citizens In India To Stay Vigilant As Row Escalates: 10 Facts

admin — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 01:53:31 +0000

India has rejected Justin Trudeau’s allegation as “absurd”. (File)

New Delhi:
Amid a huge diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada has updated its travel advisory, asking its citizens in India to “stay vigilant and exercise caution”.

“In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media. Please remain vigilant and exercise caution,” the Canadian government said in an updated advisory.

Khalistani sympathisers protested outside the Indian embassies and consulates in Canada’s Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver today over Nijjar’s killing. Protesters – led by the members of a pro-Khalistani outfit -‘Sikhs For Justice’ (SFJ) – were seen raising slogans and waving Khalistani flags.

The protests come a week after Canada Prime minister Justin Trudeau kicked up a massive diplomatic row between the two countries, alleging that “Indian government agents” could be behind the shooting of Nijjar.

Sources say pro-Khalistani extremists (PKE) have started openly intimidating minority Hindus there, and many instances of defacing of temples have been reported.

“The open threats by Khalistanis to the physical security of Indian missions and diplomats in Canada is a very serious development and challenges the obligation of Canada under the Vienna Convention,” a senior government officer who’s closely monitoring the situation said, requesting anonymity.

India has rejected Justin Trudeau’s allegation as “absurd”. Canada has shared no specific information regarding its charges, India said, flagging “politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in that country.

India has also accused Canada of not acting upon “specific evidence about criminal activities” done by Canada-based individuals. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has prepared a list of 19 fugitive Khalistani terrorists living in UK, US, Canada, Dubai, Pakistan and other countries whose properties are also likely be confiscated, sources said.

Justin Trudeau also claimed that such “credible allegations” were shared with India weeks ago. “Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago. We are there to work constructively with India. We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter,” he told a news conference on Saturday.

Top US diplomat David Cohen claimed that it was the “shared intelligence among ‘Five Eyes’ partners that had prompted Justin Trudeau go public with his big charge against India. Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair called the relationship with India “important,” but asserted that allegations over the killing of Nijjar should be investigated.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia in June. He was chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists.

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Morning Digest | Photos of bodies of two Meitei students who went missing in July surface on social media; Government rebuffs Moody’s Aadhaar views, and more

admin — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 01:35:12 +0000

Women form a human chain to protest against the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur, in Imphal. Image for representation purpose only. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Tibetans want more autonomy, not freedom or political separation from China: Dalai Lama

Tibetans are asking for more autonomy, but not political separation, asserted Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, and said that while he wishes to revisit Lhasa, he would prefer to live on in Dharamshala. Speaking to journalists at his home in Dharamshala on Monday, ahead of what is expected to be a gruelling series of trips around India, including visits to Sikkim, Karnataka, and Bodh Gaya in Bihar this year, the Dalai Lama repeated some of the seemingly conciliatory remarks he has made in the past.

Canada updates travel advisory; asks its citizens in India to ‘stay vigilant and exercise caution’

Canada has updated travel advisory for its citizens in India asking them to “stay vigilant and exercise caution” in the context of recent developments as there are calls for protests and some “negative sentiment” towards Canada on social media.

Following India, U.S. raises Chinese vessel visit with Colombo

Following India, the U.S. has raised concern with the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, over the scheduled visit of a Chinese research vessel to Sri Lanka in October, Colombo-based media has reported.

Government rebuffs Moody’s Aadhaar views; says a billion Indians trust it

The Electronics and IT Ministry late on September 25 took on a report from Moody’s Investors Service that raised questions about the efficacy of Aadhaar and asserted that there have been no breaches reported from the unique ID system’s database till date to dismiss concerns about security and privacy in a centralised system.

Do not intend to run Manipur administration; we can scrap Gita Mittal Committee or you can trust it, CJI tells petitioners

Faced with myriad complaints and grievances from petitioners in the Manipur ethnic violence case, the Supreme Court on September 25 said it could not run the State administration, and petitioners had to trust the Justice Gita Mittal Committee to do its job.

Jaishankar, Guterres discuss reform of global financial institutions and sustainability

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held bilateral talks on September 25, and discussed the sustainability agenda and the reform of international financial institutions, as per Mr. Jaishankar. The Minister met with Mr. Guterres at the UN’s headquarters on the eve of the Minister’s address to the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Gaganyaan mission: ISRO completes key engine test

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the CE20 E13 engine hot test for the Gaganyaan qualification and 22-tonne thrust qualification.

Delhi HC issues fresh notice to BBC on its controversial documentary

The Delhi High Court on September 25 issued a fresh notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a plea by an NGO claiming its documentary “India: The Modi Question” casts a slur on the country’s reputation and makes false and defamatory imputations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian judiciary.

Photos of bodies of two Meitei students who went missing in July surface on social media

Days after mobile Internet was restored in Manipur, photos of the bodies two Meitei students who went missing near Bishnupur on July 6, surfaced on social media. The bodies of the two are yet to be found. The two friends are suspected to have been abducted by “Kuki armed miscreants,” according to a status report submitted by Manipur government in the Supreme Court in August.

Shivraj government has sacrificed the future of Madhya Pradesh, Congress says, critiquing PM’s Bhopal speech

Countering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to BJP workers in Bhopal on September 25, the Congress party said Mr. Modi had not been able to showcase even one scheme of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, which has been in power for 18 years. The Opposition party alleged Mr. Chouhan’s government was mired in “scams and corruption”.

Canada’s parliament speaker apologises after honouring Nazi-linked veteran

The speaker of Canada’s parliament apologised on Sunday after he singled out a Ukrainian veteran alleged to have fought for the Nazis during World War II for a standing ovation during a visit by Ukraine’s leader.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls | Seven sitting MPs, three of them Union Ministers, in BJP second list

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s second list of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections due later this year is a power-packed one, with seven sitting Lok Sabha MPs — three of them Union Ministers — and one national general secretary among the 39 named on September 25.

Interpol issues Red Notice against alleged BKI terrorist

The Interpol has issued a Red Notice against alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Karanvir Singh, at the request of Indian enforcement agencies. The 38-year-old accused, who is suspected to have fled to Pakistan, is originally from Kapurthala in Punjab.

Hangzhou Asian Games | 10m air rifle team makes it a golden day for India

An impish smile firmly in place, a beaming Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar was nothing like what he had seemed a few minutes before – a picture of concentration, blocking out everything in the world except himself, his rifle and the target 10m away. Having won bronze in his maiden Asian Games outing, the 22-year-old with two medals on a day was clearly enjoying the spotlight.

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Morning Digest | Canada’s Defence Minister describes relationship with India ‘important’; Aadhaar unreliable in ‘hot, humid’ India, says Moody’s, and more

admin — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:59:48 +0000

Members of the United Hindu Front stage a protest against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the India-Canada issue at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on September 24.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Aadhaar unreliable in ‘hot, humid’ India: Moody’s

Global rating major Moody’s Investors Service has flagged concerns about security and privacy vulnerabilities in centralised identification systems like India’s Aadhaar programme. The unique ID system often results in “service denials”, and using biometric technologies in humid conditions is unreliable, it noted.

National Education Policy 2020 | Multiple entry, multiple exit option may not work well for India: House panel

After several organisations of students and teachers raised objections to the option of multiple entry and multiple exit (MEME) in the national education policy (NEP), the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, headed by BJP MP Vivek Thakur, has advised the Centre to hold discussions with all stakeholders on it.

Canada’s Defence Minister describes relationship with India ‘important’

Terming the relationship with India as “important”, Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair on September 24 said that his country will continue to pursue partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy while the investigation of the killing of a Sikh separatist leader continues.

National Education Policy 2020 | Multiple entry, exit option in higher studies may not suit India: House panel

After several organisations of students and teachers raised objections to the option of multiple entry and multiple exit (MEME) in the national education policy (NEP), the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, headed by BJP MP Vivek Thakur, has advised the Centre to hold discussions with all stakeholders on it. The panel, in a report titled ‘Implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 in Higher Education’, said Indian institutions were likely to face several issues in implementing this system. The report was tabled in both Houses of Parliament during the recently concluded special session.

Indian-American democrat leader racially targeted in U.S.

A 29-year-old Indian-American policy expert, who is running for Fort Bend County Commissioner in the U.S. state of Texas, has said that he has received racist and hate-filled messages on social media.

Part of old bridge on Bhogavo river collapses in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district; four injured

At least four persons were injured after a portion of an old bridge on the Bhogavo river in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district collapsed on Sunday evening, an official said.

India vs Australia | Gill, Shreyas tons, Suryakumar blitz give India the series

With a mighty batting line-up high on confidence, on a track flatter than an LED screen the match being televised on, and against an attack of which four bowlers had played just 35 ODIs among them, the question was if the Men in Blue could touch 400.

Kerala to decide soon on census to revise OBC list

The Kerala government will shortly take a call on conducting a socio-economic caste census in the State for updating the list of Other Backward Classes even as it faces the prospect of contempt of court in the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court for not initiating the process.

At least 12 injured after drainage slab caves in under weight of crowd in Rajkot

At least 12 people were injured after the slab of a drainage line caved in under the weight of a crowd gathered near a Lord Ganesh pandal in Gujarat’s Rajkot city on September 24 night, an official said.

Defence Procurement Board discusses Navy’s proposal for a second Vikrant-like aircraft carrier

The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) last week discussed the Indian Navy’s proposal for acquiring a second Vikrant-like aircraft carrier displacing 45,000 tonnes, and estimated to cost of around ₹40,000 crore, according to defence sources.

Amid row over visa denial to Indian wushu players, Chinese envoy calls for strengthening bilateral ties

Amid controversy over China’s decision to deny a visa to three Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games, Chinese envoy Zha Liyou on September 24 called for strengthening bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track.

Lighthouse festival to showcase maritime history

Union Minister of Ports and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Indian Lighthouse Festival at Fort Aguada in Goa on Sunday. The festival, according to the Centre, is aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of the country’s 75 iconic lighthouses. It is also aimed to promote lighthouses as tourism destinations and to create opportunities for local communities and businesses.

K.G. George, a filmmaker who stayed ahead of his times

In 1984, a year before the Bechdel test to measure the representation of women in cinema was first devised, K.G. George made Adaminte Variyellu, which ended with a group of women breaking the fourth wall, toppling the camera, effacing the filmmaker and running free.

2023 ODI World Cup venues: Narendra Modi Stadium — capacity, ticket sales, pitch info and all you need to know

Ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Narendra Modi Stadium is preparing to host high-profile games, including India vs. Pakistan. Despite previously hosting IPL finals and bilateral fixtures, hosting an ICC event presents a different challenge.

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US Will Try To Stay Out As India-Canada Diplomatic Row Spirals, Says Expert

admin — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 03:08:05 +0000

US on Friday urged India to work with Canada. (File)

The Biden administration will likely try to stay out of the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India as much it can, aiming not to disrupt the progress it’s made in its relationship with PM Narendra Modi’s government, the founder of political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors says. “We’re doing everything we can to engage with India to try to help outcompete China, and I don’t think the United States is going to get too involved” in the dispute, Signum Chairman Charles Myers said on BNN Bloomberg Television. Myers, former vice chairman at Evercore, is a longtime Democratic Party donor who has raised money for Biden.

Canada and India relations have been strained over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week there’s “credible” evidence that links the Indian government to the murder of Nijjar. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged India to work with Canada in its investigation in the case. “We want to see accountability, and it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” he said.

But US and other allies have stopped short of taking any specific retaliatory measures, such as expelling Indian diplomats.

The Indian government, which denied involvement in the killing, has designated Nijjar as a Khalistani terrorist and criticized Trudeau’s government for not doing more to combat “anti-India activities” within the Indian diaspora in Canada.

Canada kicked out a senior Indian diplomat from the country, and India retaliated in a tit-for-tat move. India has suspended visa applications for Canadians, a measure that will choke off business and leisure travel from Canada if it’s kept in place for long.

“For Prime Minister Trudeau to even make these allegations public, he has to have very good intel and evidence, given how serious the allegation is,” said Myers. “If true, it is an example of state-sponsored terrorism on Canadian soil.”

Even so, the US is “going to try to stay out of this,” he said.

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