India reveals Canada sitting on 26 extradition requests, slams Trudeau govt for failing to rein in extremists

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday revealed that there are 26 extradition requests pending with the Canadian government since last more than 10 years, including those of some hardcore Khalistani extremists and criminals wanted by India.

"There are 26 extradition requests pending with the Canadian side. These are over the last decade or more. Along with it, there are several provisional arrest requests which are also pending with the Canadian side of several criminals. Some of the notable ones, who have been charged with terror and related crimes, are Gurjeet Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Lakhbir Singh Landa and Arshdeep Singh Gill. We have shared the security-related information with the Canadian government," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing.

The extradition requests include those of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with the Indian government requesting the Justin Trudeau government to arrest them or take due action against them as per the law.

"So far no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our requests. This is very serious. Also we find it very strange that the people we asked to be deported, on whom we asked action to be taken, we are being told - the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is blaming the Indian side - that these people are committing crimes in Canada for which India is to be blamed. So, this is a contradiction which we don't understand," the MEA spokesperson added.

India also expressed deep concerns over the attacks on several journalists in Canada who have been reporting on Khalistani extremism in the country. These Indian-origin journalists, including Rishi Nagar, Sameer Kaushal and Deepak Punj, have been attacked for reporting or criticising Khalistan-related violence.

According to Canadian MP Chandra Arya, another anti-terrorism investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan has received death threats for his fearless reporting on Khalistani extremism in Canada.

However, as has been the case with vandalization of Hindu temples and continued attacks on Hindus in Canada, the Trudeau government has failed to take any action, so far.

"These are clear examples of intimidation and violence by those who openly espouse extremist and separatist ideology. It is also an example of what afflicts Canada today and reveals the sources of such violence, shifting the blame to India does not work in any manner," said Jaiswal.

In what has been one of the lowest points in relations between the two countries, New Delhi on Monday decided to withdraw its High Commissioner and "other targeted diplomats and officials" from Canada following Trudeau's continued "hostility" towards India.

The MEA had stated earlier this week that India has conveyed to Canada that it reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau Government's support for extremism, violence and separatism against India.

"India-Canada economic ties are robust and strong. We have a large diaspora in Canada. Our students form the largest cohort of international students in the country. Several large Canadian pension funds have invested in India and Canada remains the major beneficiary of these linkages and ties. The current crisis in the relationship has been precipitated by the Trudeau government's baseless allegations," asserted the MEA spokesperson on Thursday.