New Delhi

India on Friday (June 21) denounced the Canadian parliament's act of observing "one minute silence" in the memory of pro-Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

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"We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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The foreign ministry's remarks come after India lodged a formal protest with Canada over pro-Khalistani elements holding a "citizens' court" in front of the Indian consulate building in Vancouver where they set ablaze Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effigy.

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New Delhi in a diplomatic note to the Canadian high commission conveyed India's strong disapproval of Khalistani extremists being given a free hand by the Justin Trudeau government.

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Also read: India summons Canada envoy over Khalistan slogans at event attended by PM Justin Trudeau

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Canada's parliament holds moment of silence to mark anniversary of Nijjar's death

Canada's parliament held a moment of silence to mark the first anniversary of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death.

Nijjar was designated a terrorist by New Delhi for fostering separatism in India's northern state of Punjab and related acts of terrorism. He was the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey, outside a British Columbia Gurudwara in June 2023.

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Four Indian nationals, Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, are accused of killing Nijjar.

In response to Canada's so-called 'moment of silence', the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver announced a memorial service in memory of 329 people killed in the 1985 Khalistani bombing of an Air India Kanishka aircraft.

The memorial service is scheduled to be held on Sunday (June 23).

Taking to X, the Indian Consulate General said, "India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. 23 June 2024 marks the 39th anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 (Kanishka), in which 329 innocent victims, including 86 children, lost their lives in one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation."

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India-Canada diplomatic rift

The diplomatic relations between both countries turned sour when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled allegations against India, in September 2023, over "potential" involvement in the killing of Nijjar.

However, India has strongly rejected the allegations calling them "baseless" and "absurd".

(With inputs from agencies)