India香蕉视频直播檚 envoy to Canada says he is satisfied the federal government is adequately protecting his country香蕉视频直播檚 diplomats, after New Delhi raised concerns for their safety earlier this year.

Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma also says he香蕉视频直播檚 optimistic both countries can circumvent heated diaspora politics to form closer ties.

香蕉视频直播淔reedom has both sides of the coin, and it香蕉视频直播檚 a delicate balance, which has to be maintained by society,香蕉视频直播� Verma told The Canadian Press in a wide-ranging interview Aug. 31.

Canada and India have disagreed for years about Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 response to a long-standing Indian separatist movement that has supporters across this country but things escalated earlier this year when police were asked to investigate alleged death threats against Indian diplomats in Canada.

Those threats arose following the murder of a gurdwara leader in Surrey, B.C., which some in the Sikh community say was a politically motivated attack.

Police said they have no evidence of any links to foreign interference and had no reason to believe the Sikh community in Canada is at risk. But following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the U.S.-based group Sikhs for Justice called on supporters in Canada to 香蕉视频直播渂esiege香蕉视频直播� India香蕉视频直播檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats. Some posters called on people to 香蕉视频直播淜ill India,香蕉视频直播� while others refer to Verma and his consuls general as killers.

India then formally called on Canada to better uphold its duty to protect foreign diplomats. Verma said the issue surrounded not only threats, but large protests that blocked access to the building.

香蕉视频直播淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin. There is a reward on my head today by the Khalistani terrorists, and when I look at that, I say, 香蕉视频直播業f that is freedom of expression, I do not know which world I香蕉视频直播檓 living in,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Verma said last week.

香蕉视频直播淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 it restrict my movement? So where is my freedom to move freely in this country?香蕉视频直播� he said.

He said however 香蕉视频直播渨e feel very satisfied香蕉视频直播� Canada responded appropriately to the request for better protection.

香蕉视频直播淥ur concerns have been taken on board. It has been well understood,香蕉视频直播� Verma said.

The Khalistani separatist movement advocates for part of the Indian state of Punjab to become an independent country, but the Indian government perceives this as an extremist movement that endangers national security. India has long accused Canada of harbouring extremists, while Ottawa has continually maintained that freedom of speech means groups can voice political opinions if they don香蕉视频直播檛 use violence.

Nijjar香蕉视频直播檚 death came after additional strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries this spring.

In March, Canadian members of Parliament from various parties expressed concerns about free speech in India, after authorities there restricted the internet and limited gatherings, while they searched for a Sikh leader following the violent storming of a police station. That crackdown also sparked a rowdy March 23 protest outside India香蕉视频直播檚 High Commission in Ottawa.

In June, Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 national security adviser Jody Thomas said India was among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada, a public designation Ottawa has largely limited to authoritarian states.

Then videos emerged of a parade in Brampton, Ont., that included a float that portrayed the 1984 assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards. Organizers said the float was part of a parade honouring those who died while pursuing Khalistan independence. Gandhi香蕉视频直播檚 assassination followed her authorization of a military standoff that killed Sikh militants and sparked deadly riots, which killed thousands.

But officials in both countries said the parade float glorified violence. India香蕉视频直播檚 foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar argued the incident showed Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 lax approach to extremism, adding that it hurts the bilateral relationship.

The Business Council of Canada fears the Khalistan issue is putting a chill on years-long attempts for both countries to sign a trade deal. It also comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to visit New Delhi this week for the G20 leaders香蕉视频直播� summit.

Canada has paused ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement, but federal Trade Minister Mary Ng said the pause is only 香蕉视频直播渁 reflection to take stock of where are.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭rade agreements are complex and there are many things that go into that,香蕉视频直播� she said in Jakarta where she is travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Verma said India wants Nijjar香蕉视频直播檚 murder 香蕉视频直播渋nvestigated to the fullest.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hose who have committed this grievous injury should be punished according to Canadian law,香蕉视频直播� Verma said.

香蕉视频直播淎s a private individual, I felt hurt that a person was killed. And when I look at the reasons there could be many, and these reasons may not necessarily be only Khalistan-driven.香蕉视频直播�

Verma said India does not expect Canada to forbid anyone from expressing support for Khalistan, saying freedom of speech is a 香蕉视频直播渜uintessential pillar香蕉视频直播� for both countries.

He stressed that it wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be appropriate for a foreign diplomat to tell Canada what to do, but he suggested Ottawa could do more.

香蕉视频直播淥ur expectation is that all countries in the world understand our sensitivity, that if those people are supported from foreign lands, who want India to be fragmented, not to remain an integrated India, will have our concerns. These sensitivities are well known globally, including in Canada,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Nadir Patel, Canada香蕉视频直播檚 former high commissioner to India, said in an interview that Khalistan is 香蕉视频直播渁 significant irritant香蕉视频直播� that has been long-standing in the relationship, but said both countries can probably find 香蕉视频直播渁 pragmatic reality香蕉视频直播� to surmount the issue.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important that both sides, not one or the other 香蕉视频直播� listen to each other香蕉视频直播檚 perspectives and concerns a trying to understand,香蕉视频直播� said Patel, a senior strategic adviser with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada.

He suggested cabinet ministers from both countries navigate the issue by ensuring freedom of expression, while undertaking 香蕉视频直播済reater co-operation within existing frameworks between our security agencies.香蕉视频直播�

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