Not lax on immigration: Canada minister counters Jaishankar on arrests

Canada's Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, countered the remarks by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, regarding the recent arrests of three Indians allegedly linked to the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "We are not lax", said Miller on Jaishankar's remarks that Canada allowed people with links to organised crime to emigrate to the country.

Miller didn't confirm the reports that three Indian nationals had travelled to Canada on students' visa.

"We are not lax. The Indian foreign minister is entitled to his opinion. I'm going to let him speak his mind. It's just not accurate," said Canada Immigration Minister Marc Miller in an interview with Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), expressing his disapproval of Jaishankar's comments, reported ANI.

The External Affairs Minister of India recently criticised Canada for welcoming individuals from India with connections to organised crime, despite warnings from New Delhi. Jaishankar claimed that some individuals in Canada, with 'pro-Pakistan leanings', had formed a politically influential lobby.

When asked about the visa status of the accused, Minister Miller refrained from providing specifics due to the ongoing police investigation, stating, "Such enquiries should be directed to the RCMP."

Jaishankar criticised Trudeau's government for allowing "extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence" under the guise of free speech. He also mentioned that Canada has been granting visas to people tied to organised crime despite warnings from India, reported ANI.

Jaishankar had on May 4 said that a section of pro-Khalistan people had been using Canada’s democracy, creating a lobby and having become a vote bank for the minority government of Justin Trudeau.

"We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people, which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship," Jaishankar said.

3 INDIANS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH NIJJAR KILLING

The arrests of the three Indians in Canada in question pertain to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June of the previous year.

A video of Nijjar's killing surfaced in March this year.

In 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister alleged an Indian hand in the killing. This claim by Canada has been denied by India and called it "absurd and motivated".

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested three Indian nationals – Karanpreet Singh, 28, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karan Brar, 22 – in connection with the incident.

Three Indian nationals charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in last year’s shooting death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are set to appear in Surrey provincial court on Tuesday, according to the Vancouver Sun.

The court appearance is their first chance to talk with lawyers. They are residents of Edmonton and had a short appearance before an adjudicator on Saturday for a hearing about release. They were kept in custody after that.

Their next step is to have their lawyers ask for bail. Affan Bajwa, a Surrey criminal and immigration lawyer not involved in the case, said their chances of getting bail depend on their lawyers' arguments, reported the Vancouver Sun.

“I think it may be difficult for them to be released on bail because of a possible flight risk and risk to public safety,” he said.

If they're found guilty of first-degree murder, they won't be eligible for parole for at least 25 years, Bajwa added.

If they're foreign nationals or permanent residents, they will face a deportation hearing by the Canada Border Services Agency once they're released.