External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday mentioned that New Delhi has flagged points associated to Khalistani separatist forces working out of Canada to Ottawa, emphasizing the necessity to make sure that freedoms in a democratic society will not be misused by forces which truly advocate violence and bigotry.

Also learn: India demarches Canada over November 6 Khalistan referendum

In current weeks, anti-India actions in Canada have been on the rise. Jaishankar made the feedback throughout a press convention along with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Canberra on Monday after the thirteenth Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.

The Narendra Modi authorities served a demarche to the Justin Trudeau authorities final week, asking it to cease the so-called Khalistan referendum organized by a prescribed group in Ontario on November 6 because it challenges the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. The demarche was served to a senior official of the Canadian High Commission by a senior Ministry of External Affairs official and India’s robust concern might be additionally conveyed by the Indian Embassy in Ottawa to Global Affairs, Canada this week.

“From time to time, we’ve got engaged the Canadian authorities, I’ve myself engaged with my counterpart on this (Khalistani) problem. And we’ve got flagged the necessity to make sure that freedoms in a democratic society will not be misused by forces which truly advocate violence and, and bigotry,” he responded to a question related to the Khalistani issue.

“So, it’s important, I think, to understand really, how democracies should function not only at home but also the responsibility that democracies have to other democracies abroad,” he said.

While the Canadian government on September 16 had gone on record to state that it respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India and does not recognize the so-called referendum, New Delhi flagged its strong concern that the exercise will be used to divide the Indian diaspora by allowing students to vote by the prescribed Sikh for Justice (SFJ) organisation. The so-called referendum is being held in a private convention center in a suburb of Ontario. The first referendum was held in Brampton, Ontario on September 18, 2022

Hate crime to objectionable activity

On September 15, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto, was defaced by “Canadian Khalistani extremists” with anti-India graffiti in an apparent hate crime.

On September 23, India reacted sharply to the so-called Khalistan referendum in Canada and said that it was “deeply objectionable” that such a “politically motivated” activity by extremist elements was allowed to take place in a friendly country.

External affairs ministry and Arindam Bagchi had said India had taken up the matter with the Canadian authorities through diplomatic channels and would continue to press Canada on this matter.

Clarifying on travel advisory

To a question related to India issuing travel advisories not to travel to Canada, Jaishankar said, “I want to be very clear here. When we issue travel advisories, we issue travel advice as a travel mission for the sake of the security and safety of our citizens. So, I would urge you not to read something into a travel advisory, which is beyond the advisory.”

“What another nation does presumably displays their pondering and their insurance policies,” he mentioned, downplaying any tit-for-tat response from Ottawa to New Delhi’s current journey advisory.

On September 23, India requested its residents in Canada to train warning as a consequence of growing instances of hate crimes.

In the advisory, the ministry of exterior affairs additionally mentioned the excessive fee/consulates normal in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to analyze these crimes and take acceptable motion.

The perpetrators of those crimes haven’t been dropped at justice to date in Canada, the MEA had mentioned.

(With inputs by Hindustan Times correspondent in New Delhi)