Monday, May 25, 2026
ADVT 
National

Sikh rally in Toronto with multi-party support prompts India diplomatic rebuke

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Apr, 2024 04:08 PM
  • Sikh rally in Toronto with multi-party support prompts India diplomatic rebuke

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at the Khalsa Day rally in Toronto on Sunday.

The rally commemorates the Sikh faith, and some participants chanted and carried banners emblazoned with slogans calling for a state separate from India, known as Khalistan.

India formally summoned Canada's deputy high commissioner Monday, and the country's foreign ministry decried what it called "disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event."

India's foreign ministry didn't specify what it took issue with, but noted there were displays of separatism and alleged this illustrates Canada tolerating "extremism and violence."

New Delhi and Ottawa have been at odds over the issue for decades, and the relationship has been significantly strained since Trudeau accused India of playing a role in the slaying of a Canadian Sikh leader last year. 

Canada insists it will not infringe on free speech, including when Sikh people call for the existence of Khalistan. 

But India says these comments violate its constitution.

India has pointed out instances of people in Canada openly glorifying those linked to the 1985 bombing of an Air India plane, whose passengers were largely Canadian citizens. 

Human-rights groups says the country's Hindu nationalist government has increasingly persecuted minorities in recent years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly's office did not immediately comment on India's rebuke Monday. 

Joly has repeatedly said she wants to navigate the diplomatic rift with India in private. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary
The BC Wildfire Service says weather across British Columbia will be impacted by a hurricane in Southern California, challenging firefighters already battling hundreds of fires that forced 30,000 people from their homes and caused a provincial state of emergency.

Smoke aids B.C. fire fight, as BC Wildfire Service warns about Hurricane Hilary

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver
An air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver remains in place due to wildfire smoke. The Metro Vancouver Regional District says people should postpone or reduce outdoor physical activity particularly if they have underlying conditions related to breathing.

Air quality advisory issued for Metro Vancouver

Man dies in Hope shooting

Man dies in Hope shooting
The province's homicide investigation team has been called in after a man was fatally shot in Hope. R-C-M-P say they were called just before 3 a.m. on Sunday and found a 28-year-old man who had been shot and killed.

Man dies in Hope shooting

Ottawa 'shouldn't walk around with a stick' to enforce health deals: Holland

Ottawa 'shouldn't walk around with a stick' to enforce health deals: Holland
Newly appointed Health Minister Mark Holland says he doesn't want to go waving a stick around as he negotiates the final details of a health accord with provinces and territories, and it'll largely be up to Canadians to hold them accountable. All provinces except Quebec accepted the $198-billion deal in principle earlier this year and are expected to sign final agreements before the end of 2023.

Ottawa 'shouldn't walk around with a stick' to enforce health deals: Holland

PharmaCare covers medicine to treat rare diseases

PharmaCare covers medicine to treat rare diseases
The province says its PharmaCare program now covers medications used to treat rare diseases such as A-L-S. The Ministry of Health says the oral form of edaravone, which is used to treat A-L-S patients, will be added to the PharmaCare formulary as a limited-coverage benefit.

PharmaCare covers medicine to treat rare diseases

Shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada: manufacturer

Shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada: manufacturer
A shortage of diabetes drug Ozempic that is used off-label for weight loss is expected in Canada, the manufacturer says. Health Canada says intermittent shortages are expected from late August to early October.  

Shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic expected in Canada: manufacturer