OTTAWA – India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has issued a scathing critique of the Canadian government, accusing authorities of failing to act against extremist and terrorist organizations for over four decades. In a recent interview with a prominent Canadian national broadcaster, Patnaik asserted that Canada has provided a “permissive environment” for anti-India elements to operate freely, which has directly fueled violence and instability.
Patnaik strongly rejected Canada’s allegations linking the Indian government to the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He challenged the Canadian government to provide concrete evidence rather than relying on “credible allegations.” Highlighting a perceived double standard, he noted that while Canada demands rigorous proof when India provides information on terrorists, it expects India to accept unproven claims at face value.
“Accusations are easy. India has been talking about terrorism in Canada for 40 years. What has anyone done about it? Not one person has been convicted here,” Patnaik stated during the interview.
To underscore the gravity of Canada’s alleged negligence, the High Commissioner referenced the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, which resulted in 329 deaths. He reminded the audience that even for the deadliest terror attack in Canadian history, the investigation failed to hold those responsible fully accountable. Patnaik clarified that India does not engage in extrajudicial killings and noted that the current legal proceedings in Canada are against four specific individuals, not the Indian state. While a new Canadian administration has shown interest in repairing economic ties, Patnaik suggested that a full restoration of relations is unlikely until Canada takes significant steps to address India’s security concerns.
