Canada not providing security to our consular camps, govt tells Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Respect for each other's concerns, territorial integrity and sovereignty are essential for a stable bilateral relationship, said govt on Thursday in Parliament in response to a series of questions on ties with Canada.
Junior external affairs minister Kirti Vardhan Singh said India has repeatedly urged Canadian govt to take effective action against anti-India elements operating from its soil. "This includes preventing secessionist and extremist elements from glorifying the assassination of our leaders; issuing threats to our current political leadership and diplomats; disrespecting and vandalising places of worship; and espousing for the balkanization of India by holding so-called referendums," he said, responding to a question in Rajya Sabha.
The minister added while Canadian authorities have been able to provide protection to Indian diplomats and diplomatic properties, they have recently expressed their inability to provide security cover to our consular camps from violent acts of secessionist and extremist elements.
"This has prevented our diplomats and consular officers to render much-sought after consular and passport-related services at camps specially organised with the help of community members for benefit of Indian as well as Canadian citizens, particularly senior citizens/retirees who seek 'life certificates' to get their pensions," he said.
The minister said with nearly 1.8 million Indo-Canadians (about 4.7% of Canada's population) and another million comprising NRIs, including some 427,000 Indian students, Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diaspora abroad. "India-Canada bilateral trade is $9.4 billion (2023), with exports to Canada at $5.6 billion and imports at $3.8 billion. On the investment side, India's share of Canadian pension funds is estimated at about 25% of their Asia-Pacific portfolio. Canada is India's 17th largest investor with a cumulative FDI of $3.9 billion."