Australia raises Concerns with India over Sikh activists in Canada

Melbourne: Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong brought up Canada’s concerns about India’s alleged targeting of Sikh activists with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a meeting in Canberra.

The allegations, first raised by Canada, suggest Indian Home Minister Amit Shah ordered actions against Sikh activists within Canada—a claim India denies. Wong said that Australia’s stance on safety and respect for all individuals within its borders, regardless of identity, and reiterated that Australia respects Canada’s judicial process.

“We’ve conveyed our concerns to India,” Wong said in a joint news conference with Jaishankar, adding, “We maintain a principled position on the rule of law, judicial independence, and the sovereignty of nations.”

Jaishankar responded by criticizing Canada, accusing it of monitoring Indian diplomats, which he described as “unacceptable.” He argued that Canada has developed a “pattern” of unsubstantiated accusations.

Australia, part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance with Canada, the U.S., Britain, and New Zealand, is closely monitoring the situation.

India, over the weekend, called the allegations “absurd and baseless.” Jaishankar also expressed concern over recent vandalism at a Hindu temple near Toronto, where videos showed clashes between supporters of the Sikh separatist movement and people holding India’s national flag.