India says ‘no substantive discussion’ between PM Modi and Trudeau in Laos

India stated there were no substantive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau after the latter claimed that he raised concerns about the “safety of Canadians” with PM Modi during a brief encounter on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos.
During a press conference on Friday, Trudeau said he addressed “the work that we need to do,” alluding to tensions between the two nations after he accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Nijjar had been taking refuge in Canada before his death.
In response to Trudeau’s remarks, government sources told India Today that the two leaders came face-to-face, but there “was no substantive discussion”. The sources said, “India continues to expect that anti-India Khalistani activities will not be allowed to take place on Canadian soil and that firm action, which is lacking thus far, will be taken against those advocating violence, extremism and terrorism against India from Canadian territory.”
The Indian side again raised concerns over growing extremism in Canada, citing the increasing nexus between extremist groups and organised crime, drug syndicates, and human trafficking. “This should be a concern for Canada as well,” the sources added.
While India values its relationship with Canada, officials stressed that the ties “cannot be repaired unless the Canadian government takes strict and verifiable action against those who actively pursue anti-India activities and have conspired to promote hate, disinformation, communal disharmony, and violence in India as well as Canada.”
Trudeau described his interaction with PM Modi as a “brief exchange,” but did not divulge specific details.
“What I have said many times is that the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any Canadian government, and that’s what I’ll stay focused on,” he said.
Ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of “credible allegations” that Indian agents were behind the killing of Nijjar. India strongly rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd” and “motivated”.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of Khalistan Tiger Force and wanted by the Indian government, was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada’s Surrey in June 2023.