In a diplomatic gesture marking ongoing tensions, Canada’s Senate Speaker, Raymonde Gagne, has chosen not to attend a significant two-day G20 event hosted in New Delhi. The summit, gathering parliamentary speakers, is part of India’s year-long presidency of the G20, which concludes in November. This decision comes in the wake of Canada’s recent allegations that Indian agents might have had a role in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader.
The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, underlined that all G20 member nations receive invitations to participate, but the ultimate decision rests with each member and is subject to various factors. He expressed uncertainty about any Canadian representation due to the Senate Speaker’s absence.
Notably, the Canadian Senate has not yet responded to a request for comment from Reuters.
Indian media, meanwhile, has cited India’s lower house speaker, indicating that Canada is set to be represented by the Senate Speaker during the event.
The rift between India and Canada deepened following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent public insinuation that New Delhi’s agents might be implicated in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was tragically shot and killed by unidentified assailants on June 18 in a Vancouver suburb.
India has vehemently rejected the allegations as absurd, leading to reciprocal diplomatic actions by both nations, including the expulsion of a diplomat. India further suspended the issuance of new visas for Canadians and urged Ottawa to scale back its diplomatic presence in India.
Arindam Bagchi emphasized that India is maintaining communication with Canada at multiple levels and remains committed to ensuring parity regarding Canadian diplomatic representation in the country. This situation underscores the delicate balance in India-Canada relations and the complexities surrounding the investigation into Nijjar’s tragic killing.
By Reuters
