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India Summons Canadian Diplomat for Separatist Slogans Heard at Sikh Event with Trudeau


India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirms that it has called in a top Canadian diplomat in India following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s attendance at a Sikh celebration in Toronto.

“The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs due to separatist slogans being raised on ‘Khalistan’ during an event where the Prime Minister of Canada was present,” stated the ministry on April 29. Read more.

During the Khalsa Day event on April 28, Mr. Trudeau was joined by Liberal ministers and MPs, as well as Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

As Prime Minister Trudeau was about to speak, attendees in the crowd began shouting about Khalistan, the independent state sought by Sikh separatists in India’s Punjab. Listen to the chants.

Canada is home to a large Sikh population outside of India, and New Delhi frequently criticizes Canada for allowing Sikh separatist activities to take place.

“India strongly protests against such disruptive actions being permitted to occur without intervention at the event,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs in its most recent response to the incident.

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The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to requests for comment.



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