India91裸聊视频檚 envoy to Canada says he is satisfied the federal government is adequately protecting his country91裸聊视频檚 diplomats, after New Delhi raised concerns for their safety earlier this year.

Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma also says he91裸聊视频檚 optimistic both countries can circumvent heated diaspora politics to form closer ties.

91裸聊视频淔reedom has both sides of the coin, and it91裸聊视频檚 a delicate balance, which has to be maintained by society,91裸聊视频� Verma told The Canadian Press in a wide-ranging interview Aug. 31.

Canada and India have disagreed for years about Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 response to a long-standing Indian separatist movement that has supporters across this country but things escalated earlier this year when police were asked to investigate alleged death threats against Indian diplomats in Canada.

Those threats arose following the murder of a gurdwara leader in Surrey, B.C., which some in the Sikh community say was a politically motivated attack.

Police said they have no evidence of any links to foreign interference and had no reason to believe the Sikh community in Canada is at risk. But following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the U.S.-based group Sikhs for Justice called on supporters in Canada to 91裸聊视频渂esiege91裸聊视频� India91裸聊视频檚 diplomatic missions, offering cash rewards for the home addresses of its diplomats. Some posters called on people to 91裸聊视频淜ill India,91裸聊视频� while others refer to Verma and his consuls general as killers.

India then formally called on Canada to better uphold its duty to protect foreign diplomats. Verma said the issue surrounded not only threats, but large protests that blocked access to the building.

91裸聊视频淭here have been posters where I am called an assassin. There is a reward on my head today by the Khalistani terrorists, and when I look at that, I say, 91裸聊视频業f that is freedom of expression, I do not know which world I91裸聊视频檓 living in,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Verma said last week.

91裸聊视频淚f a reward is put on my head, doesn91裸聊视频檛 it restrict my movement? So where is my freedom to move freely in this country?91裸聊视频� he said.

He said however 91裸聊视频渨e feel very satisfied91裸聊视频� Canada responded appropriately to the request for better protection.

91裸聊视频淥ur concerns have been taken on board. It has been well understood,91裸聊视频� Verma said.

The Khalistani separatist movement advocates for part of the Indian state of Punjab to become an independent country, but the Indian government perceives this as an extremist movement that endangers national security. India has long accused Canada of harbouring extremists, while Ottawa has continually maintained that freedom of speech means groups can voice political opinions if they don91裸聊视频檛 use violence.

Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 death came after additional strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries this spring.

In March, Canadian members of Parliament from various parties expressed concerns about free speech in India, after authorities there restricted the internet and limited gatherings, while they searched for a Sikh leader following the violent storming of a police station. That crackdown also sparked a rowdy March 23 protest outside India91裸聊视频檚 High Commission in Ottawa.

In June, Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 national security adviser Jody Thomas said India was among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada, a public designation Ottawa has largely limited to authoritarian states.

Then videos emerged of a parade in Brampton, Ont., that included a float that portrayed the 1984 assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards. Organizers said the float was part of a parade honouring those who died while pursuing Khalistan independence. Gandhi91裸聊视频檚 assassination followed her authorization of a military standoff that killed Sikh militants and sparked deadly riots, which killed thousands.

But officials in both countries said the parade float glorified violence. India91裸聊视频檚 foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar argued the incident showed Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 lax approach to extremism, adding that it hurts the bilateral relationship.

The Business Council of Canada fears the Khalistan issue is putting a chill on years-long attempts for both countries to sign a trade deal. It also comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to visit New Delhi this week for the G20 leaders91裸聊视频� summit.

Canada has paused ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement, but federal Trade Minister Mary Ng said the pause is only 91裸聊视频渁 reflection to take stock of where are.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭rade agreements are complex and there are many things that go into that,91裸聊视频� she said in Jakarta where she is travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Verma said India wants Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 murder 91裸聊视频渋nvestigated to the fullest.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hose who have committed this grievous injury should be punished according to Canadian law,91裸聊视频� Verma said.

91裸聊视频淎s a private individual, I felt hurt that a person was killed. And when I look at the reasons there could be many, and these reasons may not necessarily be only Khalistan-driven.91裸聊视频�

Verma said India does not expect Canada to forbid anyone from expressing support for Khalistan, saying freedom of speech is a 91裸聊视频渜uintessential pillar91裸聊视频� for both countries.

He stressed that it wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be appropriate for a foreign diplomat to tell Canada what to do, but he suggested Ottawa could do more.

91裸聊视频淥ur expectation is that all countries in the world understand our sensitivity, that if those people are supported from foreign lands, who want India to be fragmented, not to remain an integrated India, will have our concerns. These sensitivities are well known globally, including in Canada,91裸聊视频� he said.

Nadir Patel, Canada91裸聊视频檚 former high commissioner to India, said in an interview that Khalistan is 91裸聊视频渁 significant irritant91裸聊视频� that has been long-standing in the relationship, but said both countries can probably find 91裸聊视频渁 pragmatic reality91裸聊视频� to surmount the issue.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 important that both sides, not one or the other 91裸聊视频� listen to each other91裸聊视频檚 perspectives and concerns a trying to understand,91裸聊视频� said Patel, a senior strategic adviser with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada.

He suggested cabinet ministers from both countries navigate the issue by ensuring freedom of expression, while undertaking 91裸聊视频済reater co-operation within existing frameworks between our security agencies.91裸聊视频�

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