Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 14

Joining protests against Canadian government’s decision to remove all references to Khalistani extremism in its 2018 report on terrorist threats, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said on Sunday that the move was “a threat to Indian and global security”.

Captain Amarinder expressed shock at the ruling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau government’s decision saying it was “an unpardonable act in the eyes of the peace-loving global community” that was “protecting its political interests” in a year of elections.

Read more: Canada reaches out to agitated Sikh diaspora, removes reference to Sikh extremism

He also warned that the development could have serious consequences for Indo-Canadian relations in the long run.

“Trudeau was playing with fire with his decision to assuage inflamed domestic passions through this ill-considered move,” he added, adding that he had given proof of Canadian soil being used to spread the separatist Khalistani ideology during Trudeau’s visit to India.

“Such an act amounted to endorsement of the terror activities and de facto promotion of extremism,

said Captain Amarinder, condemning outright the selective changes made by the Canadian government in its report on threats. “Only references with respect to Khalistan and related terms had been targeted by Trudeau administration,” he noted, adding that it appeared to be a clear case of the Canadian government giving in to political compulsions.

“It was obvious that Trudeau had played safe in view of the upcoming elections in Canada, giving in to pressure within his country. In the process, he had quite blatantly ignored the adverse impact this could have not only on Canada’s relations with India but also on geopolitical stability,” Amarinder Singh said, saying the decision would be detrimental to the interests of both India and Canada.

Trudeau’s Liberal Party of Canada will face elections later this year.