The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has criticized Canada’s handling of arrests related to online threats against its leaders, highlighting what it perceives as “double standards” in implementing the rule of law and freedom of expression.
The MEA’s comments came in response to reports that two individuals in Canada have been charged for issuing death threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders on social media platforms.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “When a democracy adopts different yardsticks to measure or implement the rule of law and freedom of expression, it only exposes its own double standard.”
Jaiswal also urged the Canadian authorities to take action against anti-India elements who have repeatedly threatened Indian leaders, institutions, airlines, and diplomats through violence. He emphasized that India expects Canada to address these threats with the same seriousness as it has shown in the case of online threats against its own leaders.
The MEA’s response comes at a time when India has been facing criticism from Canada over the arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has maintained that it has not received any “specific or relevant evidence” from Canada regarding the case and has accused Ottawa of allowing anti-Indian activities by Khalistani groups on its soil.
The ongoing tensions between India and Canada have strained diplomatic relations, with both sides accusing each other of interference in their internal affairs.