Amidst of India-Canada tensions, Justin Trudeau emphasises 'rule of law and human rights' in a congratulatory message to Narendra Modi
PTC News Desk: The prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, expressed his readiness to collaborate with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his congratulatory message on X on Thursday morning. Days after a high-level Canadian parliamentary panel's assessment determined that India posed the second-biggest foreign threat to Canada's democracy behind China, the prime minister of Canada took office.
Leading Canada's outburst against India for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, Justin Trudeau declared that his nation is prepared to collaborate with the Modi administration to develop ties that are "anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law".
"Happy elections, Mr. Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India. According to his office, he stated that "Canada stands ready to work with its government to advance the relationship between our nations' peoples—anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law."
A diplomatic spat has broken out between Canada and India over the former's claim that Indian spies planned to kill Nijjar on its territory. The charge was deemed ludicrous and unfounded by New Delhi.
Following the June 4 general elections in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party. The number of seats (303) that the BJP won in 2019 was significantly fewer than the 240 seats it won in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
The BJP was forced to depend on its allies in the National Democratic Alliance after missing out on a simple majority by 32 votes.
On June 8, Modi is most likely to take the oath of office.
The National Investigation Agency of India classified Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. Last year, Nijjar was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada.
Justin Trudeau stated that his government takes the issue of foreign meddling "very seriously" while citing the report.
Redacted, the report was presented in Parliament this week after being sent to the Prime Minister's Office in May. China was characterized as "unquestionably the most prolific actor" in relation to foreign meddling in Canadian democracy.
Russia has been replaced by India, which the report said has "emerged as the second-most significant foreign interference threat to Canada's democratic institutions and processes."
- With inputs from agencies
