Canada accuses India of killing Nijjar because of vote-bank politics: Jaishankar S

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks shed light on the complexities of the relationship between India and Canada, particularly in the context of issues related to Khalistani separatism and alleged Indian involvement in certain incidents. Jaishankar's statements underscore the Indian government's position that the recent developments in Canada regarding the Khalistani issue are primarily driven by internal politics rather than genuine concerns about India's actions.

Key points highlighted in Jaishankar's comments include:

1. **Internal Politics in Canada:** Jaishankar suggests that the Canadian government's criticism of India, particularly regarding the Khalistani issue, is influenced by domestic political considerations. He mentions that some political parties in Canada, lacking a parliamentary majority, rely on support from pro-Khalistan groups, which affects bilateral relations negatively.

2. **Lack of Evidence Sharing:** Jaishankar emphasizes that Canada has not provided India with any evidence to support its claims of Indian involvement in certain incidents, such as the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He suggests that Canada's failure to share evidence and cooperate with Indian authorities reflects political compulsions and vote bank politics in Canada.

3. **India's Global Image:** Despite the strained relations with Canada on certain issues, Jaishankar asserts that India's global reputation has improved significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He cites examples of other world leaders praising Modi and India's rising stature on the global stage.

4. **Bilateral Cooperation Challenges:** Jaishankar highlights India's efforts to address bilateral challenges, such as extradition requests and visa denials for individuals linked to Khalistani activities. However, he notes that Canada's lack of cooperation in these matters complicates efforts to manage bilateral relations effectively.

Overall, Jaishankar's remarks reflect India's perspective on the Khalistani issue in the context of its relations with Canada and underscore the importance of addressing political and security challenges through constructive dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.