Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Addresses India-Canada Diplomatic Tensions
In New Delhi, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri expressed his disbelief over threats to Indian representatives in Canada under the guise of freedom of expression. Speaking at an event, Puri recalled the 1984 assassination of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in the UK, emphasizing the importance of safety for all diplomats. He praised the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) statement on the issue, expressing pride in India’s stance.
Puri highlighted that the Canadian government would understand India’s position once India begins to adjust its responses. He criticized the sharing of images on social media depicting threats to Indian diplomats, calling it symbolic and unacceptable. Puri refrained from further comments, stating that the MEA’s statement was comprehensive.
Relations between India and Canada have worsened following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims of India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has dismissed these claims as vague accusations. Recently, India expelled six Canadian diplomats after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, accusing them of involvement in a campaign of violence.
The MEA strongly rejected Canada’s diplomatic note suggesting Indian diplomats were “persons of interest” in an investigation, labeling it as part of Trudeau’s political agenda. India accused Trudeau’s government of allowing extremists to threaten Indian diplomats in Canada.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the government in India who is in charge of a specific department or ministry, like education or health. They help make important decisions for the country.
Hardeep Singh Puri -: Hardeep Singh Puri is an Indian politician who is part of the government. He works on important issues related to housing and urban affairs, and sometimes speaks on international matters.
Diplomatic Tensions -: Diplomatic tensions happen when two countries have disagreements or conflicts. It can affect how they work together and communicate with each other.
Freedom of Expression -: Freedom of expression means people can share their thoughts and ideas without being stopped or punished. It’s an important right in many countries, including India and Canada.
1984 assassination of diplomat Ravindra Mhatre -: Ravindra Mhatre was an Indian diplomat who was sadly killed in 1984. This event is remembered as a tragic incident in India’s history.
Ministry of External Affairs -: The Ministry of External Affairs is a part of the Indian government that handles India’s relationships with other countries. They work on things like trade, travel, and international cooperation.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau -: Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister of Canada, which means he is the leader of the Canadian government. He makes important decisions for the country.
Terrorist’s killing -: This refers to a serious event where a person involved in terrorism was killed. It has caused disagreements between India and Canada.
Expelled diplomats -: When a country expels diplomats, it means they are sending them back to their home country. This usually happens when there are serious disagreements between the countries.
