New Delhi : Separatist chants of "Khalistan Zindabad" (Long Live Khalistan) rang out during an event in Toronto attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, prompting India to summon the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner on Monday to lodge a strong protest.
Videos from the Khalsa Day celebration on Sunday showed the pro-Khalistan slogans growing louder as Trudeau approached the stage to deliver his address. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also faced similar chants when they took the stage at the Sikh gathering, which drew thousands.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing "deep concern" that such "disturbing actions" promoting separatism were allowed to continue unchecked at the event. "This illustrates once again the political space that has been given in Canada to separatism, extremism and violence," the statement read.
The ministry warned that allowing the expression of separatist sentiments does not only impact India-Canada relations but also "encourages a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens."
During his speech, Trudeau vowed to protect the rights of Sikhs in Canada and defend the community against hatred, comments seen as referring to allegations he made last year that India was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada. India rejected those claims as "absurd and motivated."
Tensions between the two countries escalated after Trudeau's allegations, with India accusing Canada of harboring Sikh separatists and temporarily suspending visa services for Canadian citizens. Canada also withdrew dozens of diplomats from India in a tit-for-tat move.
The latest incident highlights the ongoing strain in India-Canada ties over the issue of Sikh separatism, which India asserts remains its "core issue" with the Canadian government's approach.
