India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, is set to speak publicly at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations about the current and future state of India-Canada relations. This marks his first public address since the arrest of three Indian nationals linked to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., which has significantly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The incident has led to severe diplomatic repercussions, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year accusing New Delhi of involvement in Nijjar’s murder, an allegation that prompted India to reduce Canadian diplomatic presence and suspend visa services for Canadians temporarily. Despite these tensions, discussions on the strategic importance of bilateral trade and cooperation continue, highlighted by interactions between Canadian provinces and Indian officials.
The upcoming speech by Verma is anticipated amidst this backdrop of strained diplomatic ties and ongoing criminal investigations, with both nations navigating complex issues of sovereignty, security, and the rights to free speech within the Sikh community in Canada
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