"We have completely denied these allegations. They (the Canadian government) should also answer what terrorists wanted in India were doing in Canada," Home Minister Amit Shah virtually upped the ante against Canadian establishment during an interaction at Agenda AajTak 2023 session.
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations against New Delhi on September 18.
Days after Trudeau's allegations in September, India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. Of course, the system was resumed and some visas were issued last month.
The Canadian Prime Minister in September said his country's security agencies were probing a link between the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, who was shot dead outside a Gurdwara in Surrey by two unidentified assailants on June 18 this year.
Trudeau also said he had brought up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit.
"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau told the House of Commons.
Of course, India rejected the statement outright.
"We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister.
Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated.
Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury took a jibe at the Modi government for inaugurating the new Parliament House in a 'hurry' and said, “You built the new Parliament building in a hurry. Now anyone can jump in.”
Amit Shah slams Opposition for ‘playing politics’ over Parliament security breach
“This is a serious incident. Opposition is playing politics over this.
Of course there has been a lapse. But everybody knows Parliament security is under Speaker and the Speaker wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs. We have formed an inquiry committee and that report will be sent to Speaker soon," Shah said breaking his silence on the vexed matter.
Shah avoided making any statement in Parliament despite repeated demands from the opposition benches in both the Houses. Fourteen MPs including one (Derek O' Brien) in Rajya Sabha were suspended on Thursday.
However, sources said a formal and detailed government statement in parliament on Dec 13 security breach is expected after getting all necessary information.
All six suspects/accused have been arrested by Delhi police an a case registered under anti terror UAPA.
In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, released coloured smoke from canisters and shouted slogans. The intruders were soon overpowered by the MPs.
"There should not be loopholes, but our responsibility is to fill those gaps. My appeal is not to make this a political issue," Amit Shah said.
He said that a panel has been tasked with investigating the security breach incident and also look into enhancing Lok Sabha security.
West Bengal Police on Thursday questioned a youth named Nilakkha Aich in connection with the major security breach in the Parliament.
Aich, a second-year under-graduate student at a reputed college in West Bengal, was reportedly acquainted with Lalit Jha, one of the six accused in the security breach case who is still on the run.
The police reached Aich's residence at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday after being alerted by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police that a video of the security breach in the Lok Sabha was sent to the mobile phone of Aich through WhatsApp on Wednesday, hours after the incident took place.
Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Chowdhury, said that PM Narendra Modi tells the people of the country about ‘Modi ki guarantee’, but now people will say that ‘Modi means mushkil’.
Lamenting the state of affairs in government, the Congress leader said that everyday many issues are discussed including national security, missiles, weaponry and many other things. “But from the inside we have become hollow. Does the Prime Minister think about this?
While inaugurating the new Parliament building he brought the sengol (scepter). Did he condemn the security lapse and think how to improve the security arrangements?” Chowdhury asked.
He also said out that in 2001 when the Parliament attack took place, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi spoke to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and enquired about his welfare. “Now all those traditions seem to have ended,” he remarked.
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| Adhir Chowdhury |
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