(Ottawa) “Canada is a safe country.” The federal Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, sought to downplay the advisory issued by the Indian government to its nationals, due to “increasing anti-Indian activities” which are said to be rampant in Canada.
After describing as “absurd” the allegations according to which New Delhi sponsored the murder, on Canadian soil, of a Sikh community leader, then expelled a high-level Canadian diplomat, the Indian government is issuing this recommendation to the intention of its citizens.
“Given the rise in anti-Indian activities and politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals in the country and those planning to travel are urged to exercise extreme caution,” warned Wednesday the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Modi government adds, in the same statement published on its website, that “given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students, in particular, should exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant” .
Asked to comment on this warning, Minister Dominic LeBlanc simply responded that Canada was “a safe country”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appealed for calm Tuesday after he made explosive allegations that New Delhi had a link to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leader of the Sikh community in British Columbia, in June.
“We are not looking for provocation or escalation. We are presenting the facts as we understand them,” he said, while urging the government of India to “take seriously” this story that has gone around the world.