Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a significant development in India-Canada relations, Chandrakanth Arya, a Member of Parliament from Canada’s ruling Liberal Party, recently met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. This was the first such high-level contact between the two countries since the relationship faced challenges last September.
During their meeting, Arya, who is known as a strong advocate of India-Canada friendship, called for India and Canada to take their relationship higher as there is a strong demand for Indian professionals in Canada. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jaishankar described Arya as a “genuine advocate of India – Canada friendship” and said he appreciated his views and valued his insights.
Arya, in turn, emphasized that the relationship between India and Canada remains “very important” for both countries. He noted that the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to India had recently stated that “in the long-term, Canada’s strategic interest and India’s strategic interest are absolutely aligned.”
The meeting comes at a time when economic relations between the two countries, particularly Canadian investments in India, are thriving. Additionally, skilled professionals from India are meeting Canada’s human talent needs, and there is a significant number of international students from India in the country.
Arya, who has been critical of separatist elements in Canada, has faced attacks from supporters of Khalistan. In July, Sikhs for Justice’s general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in a video, called for Arya and his supporters to abandon their Canadian citizenship and move back to India. Arya’s name was also spray painted as part of graffiti desecrating the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton last month, with him being called a “Hindu terrorist.”
In response, Arya has condemned the “hate and violence” associated with the Khalistan movement and called on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take the issue seriously. He has also highlighted how Hindu-Canadians have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada with their long history of Hindu culture and heritage.
The meeting between Arya and Jaishankar is seen as a positive step in rebuilding the relationship between India and Canada. Both countries have a shared interest in strengthening economic ties, addressing security concerns, and promoting cultural exchange. As Arya noted, it is crucial to maintain and build upon the existing strong foundations of the India-Canada relationship.
