Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has discussed critical allegations with India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. She addressed concerns regarding accusations that India had targeted Sikh activists in Canada, which India firmly denies. The discussion took place in Canberra as Wong emphasized the importance of safety and respect for all communities in Australia, highlighting concerns about the ongoing investigation and Canada's judicial process. Wong stressed the conversation was in line with Australia's commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence, adding "We convey our views to India as you would expect us to do."
In response, Jaishankar criticized Canada for placing Indian diplomats under surveillance, calling it "unacceptable." He condemned acts of violence at a Hindu temple near Toronto, describing the vandalism as "deeply concerning." The clashes, allegedly involving Sikh separatist demonstrators, drew attention from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who deemed the violence "unacceptable." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed this sentiment, condemning what he called the attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats and calling for justice from the Canadian government.
The diplomatic friction between India and Canada has intensified since allegations surfaced last year suggesting India's connection to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, a claim India rejects. The situation has led to expulsion of top diplomats from both nations. Meanwhile, the US Justice Department announced charges against an Indian government employee related to an alleged assassination plot on American soil, further complicating India's international standing. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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