AS THE diplomatic row between India and Canada continues over the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year and the recent arrest of three Indian nationals in connection to the incident, Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has taken a dig at the North American country once again saying it sends a message that vote bank is “more powerful” than the rule of law by allowing political space to Khalistani separatist elements.

Speaking with news agency Press Trust of India on Thursday (9) in an exclusive interview, the diplomat said while India values and practises freedom of speech, that does not equate with the freedom to threaten foreign diplomats, backing separatism or allowing political space to elements that advocate violence.

Jaishankar also expressed surprise saying how people with dubious backgrounds were being allowed to enter and reside in Canada, referring to Khalistani separatists among Sikh migrants that go to the North American nation from the Indian state of Punjab.

Read: Pro-Khalistan activists heckle India envoy to US at New York gurdwara

Jaishankar’s remarks came in response to a question on how New Delhi plans to deal with challenges coming from Canada and whether India was running out of options.

According to the Indian minister, it is not a question about running out of options. He said that India has witnessed with regret the direction of Canadian politics where “separatists, extremist forces, many of whom openly advocate violence have been given political space in that country”.

He also said there are people in prominent positions in Canadian politics today who he accused of espousing separatism and extremism, adding that India cannot afford to overlook the issue for the sake of having good ties.

Read: India foreign minister reacts to Canada arresting 3 men over Nijjar murder

“In any rule-based society, you would imagine that you would check people’s background, how they came, what passports they carried, etc,” he said.

“If you have people whose presence there was itself on very dubious documents, what does it say about you? It actually says that your vote-bank is more powerful than your rule of law,” Jaishankar added.

The Indian diaspora in Canada is about 1.8 million strong and the Indian diaspora, mostly of Sikh ethnicity, is considered an influential bloc in Canada’s politics.

Ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s claims made last September about India’s alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar. India reacted to the charges calling them motivated and soon after, a major diplomatic row was triggered between the two democratic nations.

(With PTI inputs)

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