Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called PM Modi and invited G7. The decision of the Canadian government is being criticized for this. Because, the opposition parties of Canada have questioned Prime Minister Modi in 2023 for the alleged role of India in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Prime Minister Modi on Friday accepted the invitation to attend the G7 conference during a phone conversation with Carney. The conference will be held from 15 to 17 June in Alberta province of Canada. Canada is the president of the G7 group this year.
Meanwhile, when the Canadian journalists asked questions about the invitation to PM Modi amid allegations against the Government of India, Canadian PM Carney has said that India is the fifth largest economy in the world and its role in many important global supply chains is central. For this reason, he has invited Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to the upcoming G7 Summit and it is necessary that countries like India should also be a part of these high -level global discussions.
When reporters questioned Carney on the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he refused to comment that the matter is in a legal process and it would not be appropriate to comment on it.
Emphasis on India’s central role
Prime Minister Carney made it clear that it is a wise step to include India on forums like G7, given the role in India’s global supply chains. Carney also told that he had discussed with other G7 member countries before inviting Modi and this decision was taken only after consent.
Indo-Canada signs of improvement in bilateral relations
Mark Carney also said that India and Canada have agreed to continue the Law Enforcement Dialogue. Describing it as a sign of progress in bilateral relationships, he said, “We have now agreed that law enforcement dialogue will be continued. It has made some progress and accountability issues have also been accepted.”
Political opposition and criticism
Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has reacted sharply to Carney’s invitation to Modi. The party said, “This decision is very worrying.”
At the same time, opposition critics believe that it was not appropriate to invite Prime Minister Modi until India is investigating the allegations of involvement in Nijjar’s murder.
Background of India-Canada Relations
Let me tell you that in 2023, the then Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, was soured in the relationship between the two countries after the involvement of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had called back its High Commissioner and five other diplomats from Canada and expelled some Canadian diplomats from the country. At that time, India accused the Trudeau government of letting Khalistani elements remain active from the land of Canada.
However, after the victory of Liberal Party leader Mark Karney in the parliamentary elections held in April, there is hope of reconstruction of relations between the two countries. In recent months, dialogue between India and Canadian security officials has resumed and the two countries are also considering the appointment of new High Commissioners. India had expressed hope after Trudeau was out of power that the relations between the two countries could be strengthened on the basis of mutual trust and sensitivity.